Nestlé Lanka empowers Kilinochchi with first milk chilling centre in 30 years

* Nestlé investment expected to have a significant impact on the progression of the district’s dairy community and overall economy

Chamal Rajapaksa, Speaker of the Parliament and Anura P. Yapa, Minister of Environment, inaugurated Nestlé Lanka’s 107th chilling centre in Sri Lanka and the first chilling centre in Kilinochchi on Friday. This facility will enable dairy farmers in the area to store and chill their milk and will contribute positively to the livelihood and prosperity of the farmers by serving as a catalyst for the future expansion of high quality milk collection in the area.

Present at this occasion was Antonio Helio Waszyk, Chairman, Nestlé Lanka PLC and Head of South Asia Region for Nestlé, along with David Saudan, Managing Director for Nestlé Lanka, and Alois Hofbauer, Managing Director designate for Nestlé Lanka.

Mr. Waszyk stated, “This inauguration of the Chilling Centre at Kilinochhi is an important milestone in our endeavour to support the development of the dairy industry in Sri Lanka. Our 107th chilling centre is the first in the Killinochi area and we hope it will accelerate economic development and prosperity for the people in this region. It is highly gratifying to be able to spearhead an initiative that will create immense value for local rural communities, and which offers our company the opportunity to demonstrate our commitment to Creating Shared Value (CSV), which is the basic way we do business. We will continue to support such initiatives and Create higher Shared Value.”

The setting up of the chilling centre was welcomed by the dairy farmers in the Kilinochchi area. Raja Kulendran, a milk farmer, stated, “It is a very happy occasion for us. We hope this will prove a turning point for our dairy industry and the economy of our area. I would like to thank Nestlé for their decision to start a chilling centre here which will benefit the milk farmers of Kilinochchi.”

Nestlé Lanka has been engaged in supporting the Sri Lankan dairy sector since the early 1980’s. Today, Nestlé Lanka is the country’s single largest private sector collector of fresh milk, procuring an average of 115,000 litres of milk every day from 13,000 local dairy farmers. The Company has invested in 107 chilling centres to date and plans to invest in 8 more before the end of this year.

With a capacity of 1,600 litres and testing equipment to ensure the high quality of milk, the Kilinochchi facility will be serviced by six milk collection points established by Nestlé Lanka in Kandawalai, Visuwamadhu, Wattakachchi, Kilinochchi, Uruththirapuram and Iranamadu. Currently collecting milk from 100 farming families in the area, the Company expects this number to increase to 500 farming families with the introduction of this new facility.

Nestlé Lanka will also provide the dairy farmers with training and development, support and assistance by way of sharing sustainable dairy farming best practices, providing aid and information on livestock health, breeding, milking, hygiene, sterile handling and storage; developing pasture and feed with farmer incentives for artificial insemination; and distributing highly sought after equipment and supporting material such as milk churns and hampers containing cattle feed.

Said Speaker Chamal Rajapaksa, “I thank Nestlé Lanka for upholding their commitment to develop the country’s dairy industry and supporting the Government’s initiative to develop the North-Eastern areas. Today’s initiative is a solid testimony of their dedication to the local dairy industry, local rural communities and to the nation as a whole.”

Added David Saudan of Nestlé Lanka, “It is no secret that the promotion and empowerment of local fresh milk production is a project close to our heart. However, we couldn’t have come this far in our vision to develop the local dairy industry without the support of the Ministry of Livestock Development, Divisional Secretariats and community and village leaders, and for this I would like to offer them our sincere thanks”.

Photo caption: Speaker of the Parliament Chamal Rajapaksa together with Antonio Helio Waszyk, Chairman, Nestlé Lanka PLC and Head of South Asia Region for Nestlé, pour the first milk container into the farm cooling tank. Looking on are Minister of Environment Anura P. Yapa, Managing Director for Nestlé Lanka David Saudan and Managing Director designate for Nestlé Lanka Alois Hofbauer.