“Packaging has always played a vital role in the supply chain”

Packaging is an essential aspect of product safety and value enhancement during distribution, storage, marketing and use. It is a fusion of science, art and technology. As such, packaging has always played a vital role in the supply chain, protecting products from damages, facilitating efficient distribution and storage of goods. Packaging is used in almost every industry, including pharmaceuticals, foods and beverages, apparel, and e-commerce, highlighting its importance for both the manufacturer and the end consumer.

The Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging plays a unique role in the country in terms of packaging with such a unique range of functions. The organization was established in 1967 and is an active member of the Asian

Packaging Federation and World Packaging Organization.

The Sri Lanka Packaging Institute organizes international packaging exhibitions, foreign tours, conducts conferences, workshops, provides consultancy services etc., for the promotion of the packaging industry in Sri Lanka.

The first ever Sri Lanka Packaging Awards contest was held in 1987, in conjunction with the 17th Asian Packaging Congress and the Lanka

Pak packaging exhibition, the Sri Lanka Packaging Awards, which are awarded for the excellence of Sri Lankan packaging.

Later, a student contest for packaging excellence was launched in 2001 to assess student engagement in packaging design activities in their academic institutions and universities.

In the past years, Sri Lanka Packaging Award winners have also been able to get winning entries to the prestigious Asia Star and World Star competitions held annually in various countries.

They used to hold awards ceremonies every year, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they have not been able to do that in the last few years. The awarding of bronze, silver and gold awards for the excellence of packaging for the three years of 2022, including the awarding of 2020 and 2021, which were missed, should be appreciated. The conferring awards for creativity, environment-friendly sectors etc. Really carries out a great mission for advancing the industry.

The award ceremony, which clearly showed the vibrancy of the Sri Lankan packaging industry and that it is ready and equipped to support the industrial development of the country, should be further promoted to provide value addition to products in all industries related to the new world and technologically updated through packaging. And it should continue to be a driver of the country’s economic progress. I again would like to express my gratitude to the Sri Lanka Institute of Packaging, which has been working for the advancement of packaging in Sri Lanka for a long time.

Dr. Ramesh Pathirana Minister of Plantations and Industries