GRI launched the first radial agricultural tire manufactured in Sri Lanka using locally sourced natural rubber on 4 February. The launch of the radial agriculture tire happens to be the only high-grade agricultural radial tire produced using locally sourced rubber. The launch event took place in collaboration with GRI’s distributor Perera Tire Services, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Weerawila.
“At present the highest quality radial tires required for agricultural vehicles in Sri Lanka are imported from foreign countries. A large amount of foreign exchange must be spent for this purpose.
GRI established an advanced specialty tire production plant in Badalgama in January 2018 and commenced the production of high-performance agriculture tires.
A hire percentage of the natural rubber requirements are met by the local rubber farmer. GRI collects the natural rubber through its own collection centres around the island and ensures the local rubber farmer get a good price for his product. This radial agriculture tire is made
primarily for the European market according to EU specification. And we are proud to now launch this high-performance tire in our own country,” said GRI Senior Manager International Business Development Dilani Anuruddhika.
She further reiterated that GRI is a completely Sri Lankan company that strives to take a high-grade Sri Lankan tire to the world as well as make it popular in Sri Lanka. “Currently we produce about 600 tires per day and have plans in execution to increase capacity rapidly due to high demand.”
Executive Director Ananda Caldera, Head of Technical Mahajanshetti, Technical Manager Amila Punchihewa, and Senior Executive for Marketing at GRI Rajindra Lakmali, also participated at this event.
GRI appointed Perera Tyre Service Ltd. as the sole distributor in Sri Lanka in 2020. It is the first time that Perera Tyre Service, which is known for high-quality international tyre brands, steps in to distribute a locally manufactured tyre. Perera Tyre Service has earned customers trust over 40 years by selling internationally reputed tyres in Sri Lankan market and is now proud to distribute specialty tires from a highly respected company such as GRI. Strategically located at 773/1 Thalangama North, Malabe, Perera Tyre Service is well known for durable tyre solutions to modern hi-tech vehicles. The company owns a tyre rebuilding plant that offers DAG tyres for affordable prices.
GRI was founded in 2002 by Prabhash Subasinghe and has grown rapidly taking high-grade Sri Lankan specialty tires to the world. The company produces radial agriculture tires, construction tires and material handling solid tires through locally produced natural rubber and has a business presence in more than 50 countries. In 2018, GRI opened an advanced manufacturing plant in Sri Lanka to produce agricultural tires.
In 2020, GRI also commenced construction of a new mixing facility in the Mirigama Export Processing Zone (MEPZ) in Sri Lanka.
(FT)