The SOE has already transferred more than Rs. 1.7 billion to the Treasury

Lanka Mineral Sands (LMS) has shipped its largest-ever consignment of mineral sands by value this week, signaling the advent of a new chapter of operations. The cargo of concentrate ‘tailings’ is valued at several million dollars, and was shipped to its Chinese buyer following an international tender process with the participation of five bidders at a pre-determined benchmark price. This shipment represents the largest-ever for LMS since its inception in 1957.

Puttalam Ilmenite Limited (PIL), the country’s premier explorer of mineral sands, represented the buyer in Sri Lanka. Puttalam Ilmenite together with its partners have invested over USD 20 million in Sri Lanka for research and development in the country’s mining sector, and is looking to grow the commercial potential of the segment internationally. The company is planning to build the country’s first world-class mineral processing facility that will represent the largest-ever foreign direct investment in the sector through the BOI.

Lanka Mineral Sands is a 100% state-owned enterprise, and is one of Sri Lanka’s few profitable state entities. Its operations are based at Pulmoddai on the East Coast, employing over 600 people including engineers. LMS is in the process of expanding its operations at Kokkilai.

Chairman of Lanka Mineral Sands, Dr. Udeni Dassanayake, said: “This has been a progressive year for LMS, and we have already transferred over Rs. 1.7 billion to the Treasury in addition to securing a new buyer and obtaining market-based price for our product.”

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