The Italcementi Group, the fifth largest, private cement producer in the world, has completed 10 years of operations in Sri Lanka during which it sold over two million tonnes of cement, the company said in a statement.

The Group commenced operations in Sri Lanka in April 1998 as a BOI company with the objective of introducing advanced concepts for cement imports via a Floating Cement Silo Vessel for the handling, storage, packing and distribution of its cement, the statement said tracing the history of its Sri Lanka operations. Known locally as International Cement Traders (Pvt) Ltd (ICT), the company markets its own brands of cement.

ICT Managing Director Colin Nelson said they were proud of their achievement and looked forward to selling the next million tonnes in record time. Along with its 10th anniversary celebrations, ICT also felicitated three members of the staff who have been with the company since its inception -- Marketing Manager Felix Thomas, Ms Kanchana Bandara of the Accounts Department and R.L. Priyantha in Administration.

Mr Nelson said ICT would be installing a new state of the art packing plant by the end of October at a cost of Rs 50 million and also upgrade its entire facility at an envisaged cost of Rs 20 million next year.