Business
Local production of live food for aquaculture to slash the import bill
Manufacturing and packaging plant in Hambantota
By Hiran H. Senewiratne
The local Artemia rearing industry is poised to replace the necessity of importing cysts thus helping to save the outflow of foreign exchange spent on aquaculture.
Artemia cysts are shrimp eggs with an excellent hatching rate and Artemia cysts nauplii are well-known as the ideal live food for ornamental fish and prawns in farms.
Nishantha Sandabarana, Chairman Lanka Salt Limited (LSL) in Hambatota told The Island Financial Review that the Company is now in the process of taking steps to increase the production of Artemia. It is a microscopic invertebrate living being which inhabits in salterns, a source that provides high protein nutritional value for ornamental fish and prawns in farms.” he said.
“At present it is naturally germinating at the Palatupanna salterns close to Bundalama wildlife reserve and with that we are able to manufacture Artemia for local consumption to meet about 10 percent of the total local requirement. To increase this 50 acres have been allocated within the salterns to start producing them in a big way, ” Sandabarana said.
He said that Artemia Cysts nauplii are well-known as the ideal live food for ornamental fish and prawns and there is a huge local and international market for the product. Currently Sri Lanka imports 90 percent of the local requirement, and we are on track to boosting the local production of this feed important for aquatic animals. Encouragingly, the Artemia varieties that are found in local lagoons are unique with an excellent 80 percent hatching rate, he said.
Lanka Salt Limited (LSL) Chairman Nishantha Sandabarana shows a premium quality locally produced tin of dry Artemia cysts, a live feed used in aquaculture. A 150-gram tin costs Rs. 1,700 which he says is way cheaper than the imported stuff of similar quality.
He said that they have sent several officials to Vietnam to further train them on the techniques. “Once the initial phase is fully in progress we should be able to double the production. At present we are producing 1,500 tins of 150 grams for a year, he said.
” The nutritive value of the freshly hatched nauplii and the advantage of using the dry cysts as a source of live feed brine shrimp is highly important. Artemia cysts are used very extensively throughout the world in most of the hatcheries of both freshwater and marine fishes and crustaceans”, Sandabarana said.
LSL Assistant Production Manager Sachira Wickramaarchchi said that until recently the entire world demand of brine shrimp cysts was met by a few commercial companies from San Francisco, Utah and Canada.
“Because of the heavy demand, the price of Artemia cysts went up and it seems likely that the shortage of Artemia cysts might become a major constraint on the growth and development of aquaculture in future,” Wickramaarchchi said.
The National Aquatic Resources Agency (NARA) initiated a project on Artemia culture many years ago having realized the importance of Artemia as a live feed in aquaculture. An initial survey was conducted along the southern, western and northern coast of Sri Lanka as a precursor of the project.
The Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Sri Lanka (AHK Sri Lanka) proudly facilitated the first-ever Sri Lankan delegation’s participation at Drupa 2024, the world’s largest trade fair for the printing industry and technology. Held after an eight-year hiatus, Drupa 2024 was a landmark event, marking significant advancements and opportunities in the global printing industry.
AHK Sri Lanka played a pivotal role in organising and supporting the delegation, which comprised 17 members from the Sri Lanka Association for Printers (SLAP), representing eight companies from the commercial, newspaper, stationery printing, and packaging industries. This pioneering effort by AHK Sri Lanka not only showcased the diverse capabilities of Sri Lanka’s printing sector but also facilitated vital bilateral discussions with key stakeholders from the German printing industry.
Business
Unveiling Ayugiri: Browns Hotels & Resorts sets the stage for a new era in luxury Ayurveda Wellness
In a captivating reimagining of luxury wellness tourism, Browns Hotels & Resorts proudly unveiled the exquisite Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya. This momentous occasion, celebrated amidst a vibrant and serene grand opening on the 6th of June, heralds a new chapter in the Ayurveda wellness tourism landscape in Sri Lanka. Nestled amidst 54 acres of unspoiled natural splendour, Ayugiri features 22 exclusive suites and stands out as the only luxury Ayurveda wellness resort in the country offering plunge pools in every room, rendering it truly one-of-a-kind.
The grand opening of Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort was an enchanting event, where guests were captivated by the melodies of flutists and violinists resonating through Sigiriya’s lush landscapes. As traditional drummers and dancers infused the air with vibrant energy, Browns Hotels & Resorts’ CEO, Eksath Wijeratne, Kotaro Katsuki, Acting Ambassador for the Embassy of Japan and General Manager, Buwaneka Bandara, unveiled the resort’s new logo, marking a significant moment witnessed by distinguished guests from the French Embassy, Ayurveda and wellness enthusiasts along with officials from the Sigiriya area, LOLC Holdings and Browns Group.
“Our strategic expansion into wellness tourism with Ayugiri Ayurveda Wellness Resort Sigiriya symbolises a significant milestone for Browns Hotels & Resorts. Wellness tourism has consistently outperformed the overall tourism industry for over a decade, reflecting a growing global interest in travel that goes beyond leisure to offer rejuvenation and holistic well-being. By integrating the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda with modern luxury, we aim to set a new standard in luxury wellness tourism in Sri Lanka. Whether your goal is prevention, healing, or a deeper connection to inner harmony, Ayugiri offers a sanctuary for holistic well-being” stated Eksath Wijeratne.
Ayugiri encapsulates the essence of life, inspired by the lotus flower held by the graceful queens of the infamous Sigiriya frescoes. Just as the lotus emerges from the murky depths, untainted and serene,
Ayugiri invites guests on a journey of purity and rejuvenation, harmonised with a balance of mind, body and spirit, the essence of nature, echoes of culture and the wisdom of ancient Ayurvedic healing.
HNB General Insurance, one of Sri Lanka’s leading general insurance providers, has been honored as the Best General Bancassurance Provider in Sri Lanka 2024 by the prestigious Global Banking and Finance Review – UK.
The esteemed accolade underscores HNB General Insurance’s unwavering commitment to excellence and its outstanding performance in the field of bancassurance. Through dedication and hard work, the HNB General Insurance team has continuously endeavored to deliver innovative insurance solutions, cultivate strong relationships with banking partners, and provide unparalleled service to customers nationwide. This recognition is a testament to the team’s dedication and relentless pursuit of excellence in the bancassurance business.
“We are honored to receive this prestigious award, which reflects our team’s tireless efforts and dedication to delivering value-added insurance solutions and exceptional service through our bancassurance partnerships,” said Sithumina Jayasundara, CEO of HNB General Insurance. “This recognition reaffirms our position as a trusted insurance provider in Sri Lanka and motivates us to continue striving for excellence in serving our customers and communities.”
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