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Die nachfolgenden Artikel stammen aus der Zeitung "the Sunday Times" und handeln von den Salinen um Hambantota.

Funday Times - Our Heritage - From 'lunu polkatta' to branded packs

Gaveshaka traces the changes in the salt industry

The 1956 Bandaranaike government adopted a Nationalisation Policy and most of the public utility systems and essential industries were nationalised bringing them under government control. The State Industrial Corporation Act No.49 of 1957 was enacted, under which several Public Corporations were established. Among them was the National Salt Corporation which was set up on December 3, 1957. The Corporation which functioned under the Ministry of Industries thereafter took over the salt industry in Sri Lanka. The salterns where the salt is produced belonged to the State.

With a change in policy from nationalization to privatization after 1977, most corporations were done away with and the businesses were handed over to the private sector. Lanka Salt Ltd., incorporated in 1990, manages the three salterns in the South – Hambantota, Bundala and Palatupana. Mantai Salt Ltd., was formed in August 2001 to take over the salterns in Mannar and Chemmani in Jaffna.

Production in the northern salterns has been adversely affected due to civil disturbances while the tsunami in December 2004 disrupted the production of salt in the south. Weather plays a key role in salt production. Heavy rainfall affects production since sunshine is needed to manufacture salt. Salt is one of the most common items used in the household. The most popular food spice, salt is a dietary mineral composed primarily of sodium chloride that is essential for animal life. Salt flavour is one of the basic tastes. It is also an important preservative.

As a universal commodity, it plays an important role today in human survival and well being. Medical science utilizes salt as the universal carrier for iodine in the eradication of preventable brain damage and iodine deficiency disorders. Salt is involved in regulating the water content (fluid balance) of the body. Over-consumption of salt, however, increases the risk of health problems, including high blood pressure. The manufacture of salt has been a simple operation from the days of the ancient kings.


A saltern

Driving past Hambantota, it was a common sight, not many years ago, to see large tracts of white 'sheets' on the left hand side of the road. During the high tide the lagoon gets filled with sea water which does not flow back due to the high temperature and wind.

The result is the formation of salt. As in paddy cultivation, harvesting of salt is also done in two seasons. The Maha season stretches from July to October and the Yala season from February to mid-April. The method of salt production has undergone changes over the years. Due to increased demand, the natural flow of water from the sea was found to be insufficient. Sea water had to be pumped through channels to the lagoon in order to obtain additional water. The saturated sea water is pumped into specially prepared areas known as salt pans where it is kept until crystalisation, after which the water is diverted to the specially prepared salterns. Due to further evaporation, salt is formed after which it is collected and transported for storage.

Common or edible salt is washed, dried and sprayed with an iodine solution before packing. Table salt is prepared according to a special formula.

Earlier, raw salt was made available for sale in boutiques in gunny bags. In the household, pieces of salt were put into a coconut shell and water added for use in curries. The 'lunu polkatta' thus became a key element in the kitchen. Children loved eating raw 'veralu' with a piece of salt. Today, salt comes in attractive packs branded under different names and it is a 'pinch of salt' that is used.

The manufacture of salt has been modernized and the first ever salt refinery has been opened in Puttalam by Raigam Wayamba Saltern (Pvt) Ltd. Production of salt to meet the local demand has become a problem and there is talk about the need to import salt. Meanwhile, Lanka Salt has launched an eco-friendly development programme.

A modern factory has been built for the iodization of the entirety of salt produced by Lanka Salt Ltd., to the highest health standards at a capacity of no less than 15 tons per hour. Production commenced in April 2007.

Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
the Sunday Times, Sunday November 30, 2008
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/081130/FunDay/fundaytimes_2.html


Lanka Salt records 99% profit increase for 2008

Lanka Salt has recorded a 99.24% increase in profit to Rs 94.53 million last year compared to Rs 710,435 in 2007, according to the company’s annual report. The company’s General Manager, Mali Bandara said in her statement that a sales revenue of Rs 632 million was generated last year, against Rs 483 million in 2007.

Sri Lanka imports 10,000 metric tonnes of salt out of an annual demand of 120,000. Major rehabilitation of salt pans and brine reservoirs at Mahalewaya, Bundala and Palatupana are underway. Picture shows salterns in Puttalam. “The production was 77,000 metric tones (MT) against the forecast of 68,000 MT,” she has said, adding that the iodisation factory was subject to optimum utilization throughout this time with an efficiency monitored maintenance programme, enabling the processing of 62,000 MT for iodisation.

Sri Lanka imports 10,000 metric tonnes of salt out of an annual demand of 120,000. Ms. Bandara said there were major rehabilitation of salt pans and brine reservoirs at Mahalewaya, Bundala and Palatupana.

She has also said that the saltern the company owns at Bundala is being developed as an independent production centre with its iodisation plant. “In the long term it will be an autonomous profit centre,” she has said.

Chairman Mahinda Gunawardena said in his annual statement that Bundala and Palatupana salterns are also being transformed into efficient production units. “Particularly the Palatupana Saltern through acquiring a connection to the national grid would be able to get a higher volume of pumped brine to produce more tonnage,” he noted.

Ms. Bandara has said that the company’s Koholankala Lewaya at Hambantota which had been neglected without any rehabilitation was completely revamped and is now in production. “The new capacity of 6.25 hectares brings an extra yield of 2,000 MT per year.

Sri Lanka imports 10,000 metric tonnes of salt out of an annual demand of 120,000. Major rehabilitation of salt pans and brine reservoirs at Mahalewaya, Bundala and Palatupana are underway. Picture shows salterns in Puttalam.

 

Reproduction of articles permitted when used without any alterations to contents and a link to the source page.
"the Subdy Times", Sunday June 28, 2009
http://www.sundaytimes.lk/090628/FinancialTimes/ft319.html

Salzproduktion

Die Salzproduktion aus Meerwasser wurde von den Briten eingeführt.

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