Northern salt merchant hopeful of better prospects

Saminathan Nadarajah a resident of Mannar the owner of Aarokya Iodised Salt can expand operations at any time if he can get more salt.

He now sells 50,000 kilos and plans are underway to increase it to 200,000 kgs as soon as he can get more raw salt from the saltern.

Saminathan Nadarajah

He said that 19 people are employed by him and their salt is sold in Mannar and Vavuniya. Though I get orders from Potuvil and Akkaraipattu I can't meet the demand as I don't have the required raw materials. I am in a position to supply salt to all the Multi Purpose Cooperative Societies in the Eastern region if I get the salt which is cleaned, Iodised and packeted at my factory.

He said that they follow all health guidelines and has followed training in manufacturing iodised salt as well as analysing the same. His factory is equipped with a lab and an analyzer.

The factory has been in operation for the last five years. A father of five children including a boy Nadarajah is a social worker and a director of the Mannar Chamber. In addition he is also a director of the Town Traders Association of Mannar.

Educated at Passara Madya Maha Vidyalaya he is fluent in all three languages.

Nadarajah helps women by providing training and raw material to manufacture candles and joss sticks. He helps the women in marketing the products as well and already he has supported 400 women out of which 200 are having successful businesses.

He said that already three of his daughters are married while the wife who is a dressmaker also earns a substantial amount. He is quite content and is now planning to reserve 10 percent of his profit for social work.

He said that to reap the dividends of peace all should get together so that everybody can support to help the country prosper. The country is rich in resources therefore it is necessary to reap them for the benefit of the country.

(SG)