Laugfs Holdings has invested USD 80 million in a Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG) import and export terminal at the Hambantota, Mahagampura Mahinda Rajapaksa Port, Laugfs Holdings Chairman W.K.H. Wegapitiya said.
He said initially around 200 jobs will be created and thereafter, more employment opportunities will be created at the terminal in the South which will produce 30,000 mt of LPG.
He said the company has also ventured into shipping and logistics with its new role as an energy exporter. Laugfs has invested in three ships carrying the Sri Lankan flag to brining in its own LPG.
Laugfs has set up a trading company in Dubai and has acquired the third largest LPG down stream player in Bangladesh.
“Our aim is to deliver safety, reliability and quality to customers in Sri Lanka and in the region,” Wegapitiya said. Laugfs Holdings, a diversified group with business in retail, industrial, services, leisure, logistics, power and energy and real estate has expanded its local and overseas operations.
The company relaunched its gas and lubricant corporate brands with new logos and packaging and advertising campaigns for the season to portray the company’s new aspirations and expand its local and overseas foot print in the energy sector.
Apart from the new logos the company will introduce new packaging in different automotive segments for diesel, petrol and the motor cycle categories.
The ‘View Strip’ at the bottom of the label shows the type of vehicle the oil could be used.
“This is a breakthrough in the lubricant product packaging in the country,” Wegapitiya said. Laugfs launched ‘Actron’, a specialized three-wheeler oil. The new lubricants logo depicts the form of an oil drop and it symbolize the shape of Sri Lanka. Popular actress Pooja Umashankar is the ambassador for Laugfs Gas and international motor sports personality Dilantha Malgamuwa and Usha Perera, a racing champion with many local and international accolades are the brand ambassadors for Laugfs Lubricants.
From a single LPG cylinder the company has expanded its sales to over one million cylinders today capturing a 30 percent market share in the sector.
With humble beginnings in the mid 1990s, today, the company is a leading player in the LPG and lubricant sectors with over 4,000 employees and an annual turnover of over Rs. 28 billion.
Laugfs Holdings, Managing Director Thilak de Silva said, “Our employees are our greatest strength. They are trained to honour their commitments and take ownership of their actions while being dependable and consistent in what they say and do. We consider our passion will help create more employment here and abroad,” de Silva said.