Holcim Lanka records highest net income

Holcim Lanka's profit rose to Rs. 1.706 billion with net income for the first time in eight years matching with the company's capital.

The Chairman, Holcim Lanka Ltd Manilal Fernando said that in 2006, the company's top line grew by 20 percent to Rs. 10.4 billion on account of a 10 percent volume increase and better price realisations.

"The decision taken by the government in November 2006, adversely affected the potential for foreign investment in Sri Lanka, he said.

Holcim Lanka launched its first Sustainability Report together with its annual review 2006 at a media conference at the Colombo Hilton.

Managing Director/CEO Peter Spirig presented the company's triple-bottom-line performance, comprising economic, social and environmental performance.

Although it is not a public quoted company, Holcim Lanka has over the last few years presented its performance on this annual occasion. This year, further consolidating its position as a sustainability driven company, it has taken a step further by publishing its first ever Sustainability Report together with its annual review.

Holcim (Lanka) Ltd is the local player of the Holcim Group, one of the world's leading suppliers of cement and aggregates as well as further activities such as ready-mix concrete and asphalt including services. The Group has a market presence in over 70 countries in all continents and employs some 90,000 people. It has 152 cement plants, over 1,000 ready-mix concrete plants and over 400 aggregate plants.

Holcim Lanka is the country's largest cement company with a presence in all provinces. Headquartered in Colombo, Holcim Lanka has its limestone quarry in Aruwakkaru and owns the country's only fully integrated cement manufacturing facility, in Puttalam.

The company has also a cement grinding facility in Galle. While consistently securing market leadership with a stronghold of a steady 30% market share throughout the year, Holcim Lanka continued to promote the concept of application-based cements as done in developed markets globally.

Holcim Supiri continues to be the mainstay product for general construction purposes and Holcim Pedereru finds increasing acceptance as the perfect solution for wall building and plastering.

In 2006, a full 7% of the company's entire sales were Pedereru and the figure is rising.

LSAW