The food processing segment in Sri Lanka has been relatively large and has been a prominent part of the economy of the country in terms of Gross Domestic Product and employment. Built on its historical background of a strong agricultural economy, the food processing industry of Sri Lanka utilizes a variety of raw materials to meet both domestic as well as international demands. The industry has evolved because of progressive technology, higher quality control, and emphasis on new products. In this regard, Prima Ceylon has emerged as a key player in the flour milling and baking industry within Sri Lanka after it was established in 1977.
Prima Ceylon (Private) Limited (PCL) operates under the Prima Group and is situated in Sri Lanka where its core activities involve milling of wheat flour. Since its inception, Prima Ceylon has provided incremental value to the flour milling and bakery industry in Sri Lanka.
Operational Capabilities
In 1980, Prima Ceylon had established a new flour milling complex at Trincomalee which was one of the largest integrated building for a flour milling in the world at that time. This facility is able to mill an average of 3,650 metric tonnes of wheat on a daily basis. Its intended function is to facilitate the transfer of wheat grain, flour and by-products from one facility to another, and to discharge and load them from ships at the jetty.
The extension of the jetty for the reception of bulk carriers up to 100000 metric tonnes deadweight and multi-purpose wharf for container vessels improves the operational capacities of the facility and opens up the southern region for trade with other countries across South Asia.
Quality and Infrastructure
The company’s Trincomalee complex is well connected by road, rail, and sea transport to ensure products are shipped out to other parts of Sri Lanka. Living facilities, a management office, a dispensary, and other facilities for staff members supplement human resource development. The facility has received ISO9001:2000 and ISO22000:2005 certifications which prove that the company is compliant to quality standard.
Focusing on practical training
In 2004, Prima Ceylon launched the Prima Baking Training Centre (PBTC) in Colombo as the social investment project under the instruction of Primus Cheng, the chairman of the Prima Group. PBTC is focused on enhancing the baking skills and knowledge in Sri Lanka through the set courses that are accredited all over the world. PBTC is officially affiliated with the Tertiary and Vocational Education Commission in Sri Lanka and offers NVQ level 3 and NVQ level 4 diploma programs. First backed by the big international wheat associations, the center involves the training and the contemporary baking.
From its modern milling plant in Trincomalee to its baking skill developing centre in Colombo, the firm remains to be an agent of change in the sector through quality production, training & customer service support
Role in the Bakery Sector
The company is not restricted to flour milling but is also involved in other sub-sectors of the baking industry. It offers supporting services which involve the transfer of baking skills, perception of the benefits of the products, and problem-solving solutions. This service commitment goes hand in hand with the company’s principle of offering solutions that enable customers to add value.
From its modern milling plant in Trincomalee to its baking skill developing centre in Colombo, the firm remains to be an agent of change in the sector through quality production, training and customer service support. It was therefore fitting to observe that as the industry in food processing develops dynamically over time, Prima Ceylon still has the capacity to play the roles of molding the future of the industry in Sri Lanka.
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