An extraordinary inventor for any type of machinery

by Surekha Galagoda

[email protected]

Lloyd Witharana, an engineer by profession with an eye for detail can manufacture any type of machinery according to the buyer's requirements.

This extraordinary individual with more than 20 years' experience in some of the best technical firms quit his job as an engineer and ventured on his own way back in the nineties.

Unitex Engineers at Moratuwa started by him with two employees, design and fabricate machinery according to the requirements of the customer.

Though master he not only instructs but also engages in the work which has earned him a high reputation and today there are 16 persons working for him.

Witharana's inventions are wide and varied and among them is the cement block making machine and several pieces of equipment needed for the bakery industry.

His main inventions are the dehydrator and a plant for manufacturing virgin coconut oil.

He said, "the cement block making machine was my first invention and it was invented as a solution to the escalating price of bricks."

"This gave me the strength to invent more machinery to help the small and medium industrialists in the country and also stop the massive foreign exchange going out of the country to import machinery. Even my raw materials are purchased locally and by this I help to stop the drain of exchange from our country."

Born to a family of four brothers, all engineers, he said that his three elder brothers were an inspiration and this led to him to become an engineer as well. Educated at Welimada Madya Maha Vidyalaya, Witharana is today capable of inventing any machine once the requirements are spelt out.

He has already sold 40 units of the dehydrator which can dry fruits, vegetables, noodles as well as pappadam.

There is a big demand for dehydrated fruits and vegetables in the USA as well as for organic products. Witharana said that Baurs purchased 16 dehydrators and installed them in remote places. This venture has helped to reduce the rate of unemployment and earn much needed foreign currency.

The dehydrator extracts the water while retaining the colour and aroma which gives the vegetables or fruits a fresh look. The dehydrators are manufactured to order according to the specifications of the buyer.

"The plant for manufacturing virgin coconut oil was also invented by me. I have already sold six plants and this machine too is made to order. He said that virgin coconut oil is used to manufacture cosmetics and medicine and has a high demand in countries including Germany, France and USA.

Witharana travels around the world to update his knowledge and has won many awards for his inventions. His main aim is to do many more inventions to stop the drain of foreign exchange from Sri Lanka.