ADVERTORIAL

ISO certification to tea factories in Kegalle Plantations PLC

All tea factories in Kegalle Plantations PLC were recently awarded with ISO 22000:2005 certification for the establishment of a Food Safety Management System.

The five tea producing facilities, Luckyland, Kirklees, Gampaha, Doteloya and Yataderiya situated in the Plantation Districts of Udapussellawa, Dolosbage and Kegalle produce almost three million Kilograms of tea per annum of the Rotovane and Orthodox type Teas. Kegalle Plantations PLC is a subsidiary of Richard Pieris and Co.PLC.

Richard Pieris Tyre Company’s Arpidag tyres secure ISO 9001: 2008 certification

The ISO 9001:2008 standards certification awarded by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution was presented to the Arpidag International Limited, a member of the Richard Pieris Group of Companies. This standards certification was awarded to Arpidag Intenational Limited as an updating of the certification secured in year 2001 by Arpidag International.

Richar Pieris Tyre Company, the pioneering and foremost company in tyre retreading in the pre-hardened method in Sri Lanka, uses the tread tracks manufactured by Arpidag International Limited under this ISO certification and the awarding of this ISO certification is an endorsement of the superiority of Arpidag retreaded tyres. The company, issuing over 50,000 retreaded tyres to the market, is the largest establishment manufacturing retreaded tyres in South Asia. The tyre retreading of Richard Pieris Tyre Company, established in 1932, was launched in 1942 and it was Sri Lanka’s pioneering tyre retreading factory. Following the successful launch, the company experienced a steady growth and, partnering the Bandag Company of USA, introduced pre-cured retreaded tyres under the trade name ‘Arpidag’, adding a revolutionary change to the tyre retreading field of this country.

Richard Pieris Tyre Company markets retreaded tyres manufactured in their tyre factories situated in Nawinna, Kurunegala, Kandy ,Weligama and Gampaha under the trade names Arpidag, Arpico and Arpiradial, imports original tyres and tubes under the brand names Birla from India, Corsa from Indonesia and Casumina from Vietnam and the company recently introduced Ultima batteries to the Sri Lankan market.Speaking about the securing of the SLS certification awarded by the Sri Lanka Standards Institution, Richard Pieris Tyre Company, General Manager, Pradeep Samaratunga said, “I see the awarding of this standards certification a victory of our consumers, than a victory by us, as this a re-confirmation of the high standards of our products.

To remind about the high standards of our Arpidag pre-Cured retreaded tyres, Arpidag is the only pre-Cured retreaded tyre in the market that can be used for over 80% of the running distance of a local brand new tyre. Furthermore, we are manufacturing the Arpidag pre-Cured retreaded tyres with tread patterns that are most suitable to the roads of this country.

Another specialty of the Arpidag pre-Cured retreaded tyres is that tread patterns can be selected to suit the use the vehicle is put in to and the road the vehicle has to travel on.

That minimizes the money that is spent on tyres. In future, we intend to obtain such international standard certifications and to improve the standards of the Arpidag tyre.”

Richard Pieris and Company PLC, launched in 1932, with a proud history of 80 years and the biggest work force in Sri Lanka, is one of the largest Sri Lankan groups of companies with 42 member companies and a varied business diversification, based on modern technology. Being the market leader in Rubber, Plastic, Rigifoam, Estate management, retail sales and distribution, Richard Pieris & Company PLC recently launched their business activities in financial services, Insurance, Construction and Logistic fields.

Fonterra Brands Lanka partners ChildFund

As part of its ongoing commitment to improving the health and well-being of communities, Fonterra Brands Lanka has partnered with international child development organization, ChildFund to increase the capabilities of specialized health and nutrition services for underprivileged children aged 0-5 years and their families. For an initial 12-month period, the joint programme will support nutrition, children’s health and educational activities at Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) centers, located in the Polonnaruwa district.

This includes improving ECCD buildings and facilities through providing learning materials, equipment and meals, offering home gardening starter kits and advice, as well as support funding for staff to reach out to parents and support networks.

In addition to funding the enhancements, volunteers from Fonterra Brands Lanka will work closely with ChildFund’s team of aid-workers in Sri Lanka to exchange knowledge and resources around the areas of nutrition, pediatric and maternal health to create a network of best practice that benefits communities. Employees will also donate their time to help with the centre improvements and support educational activities with the children.

Fonterra Brands Lanka and ChildFund staff joined together at Sirimavo ECCD Centre in Polonnaruwa to commemorate the partnership. Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena also attended as the occasion’s guest of honour, demonstrating the Ministry’s support for the initiative.

Speaking of the initiative, Managing Director of Fonterra Brands Lanka, Achyut Kasireddy said “Fonterra Brands Lanka aims to continually contribute to the nation in the areas of nutrition, community development and farmer development. We are delighted to be able to strengthen our commitment to mothers and children across Sri Lanka through our relationship with ChildFund”.

“ChildFund has an admirable track-record for its work in Sri Lanka and we hope that through our support, the organization will be able to further develop the ECCD services it offers to children and their caregivers to change the lives of more people in Polonnaruwa,” Kasireddy added.

Sri Lanka is one of the 54 countries that ChildFund International operates in delivering comprehensive programmes incorporating early childhood care and development, health, nutrition, education, youth career guidance and skills development. ChildFund’s programmes currently assist 33,650 children and youth in 12 districts across the country.

ChildFund’s Country Director, Guru Naik said, “At ChildFund we work for the wellbeing of all children in the communities we operate in. This includes assisting in the physical and cognitive development of children while also educating and training parents and caregivers.

Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena, said: “As we work together as a nation to enable more children to consume nutritious and healthy meals, it is heartening to see corporations and organizations such as Fonterra Brands and ChildFund joining together in their shared goal to improve the physical and educational development of children so that they can receive a good start in life.”