The Story of a Pioneer
As a government entity, Lanka Steel Corporation introduced the manufacture of modern steel rebars (260 grade plain, mild steel bars) to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon) in the 1960s. It was a groundbreaking venture that shifted the emphasis of the economy from being agri-based to industrial.
Although the emphasis was on the manufacture of rebars for the reinforcement of concrete, a portfolio of structural and non-structural steel products was also manufactured to cater to the needs of the time, such as angle-iron, flat bars, barbed wire, wire netting, wire nails and even welding rods. The operation was done through a Government of Russian grant on very concessionary terms to the Government of Sri Lanka.
The next phase of the manufacturing plant began with the introduction of TOR Steel (Cold Twisted Deformed) with Ceylon Steel becoming the sole licensee in Sri Lanka for its manufacture. This new product was a quantum leap for the construction industry in Sri Lanka at the time, because the hot-rolled, cold-twisted, deformed rebar had a yield stress value almost double that of the plain, mild steel bars.
Thereafter, the establishment shifted its ownership and management from being a government-owned business undertaking to a Limited Liability Company in 1993, and following that to a Korean-based company in 1996.
The present ownership and management took over the steel giant in September 2009 and reinstated it to its rightful place of pride and renamed it “Ceylon Steel Corporation Limited” with the brand identity as LANWA Sanstha Wane – NATION’s STEEL. NATION’s METTLE.
Under the able and visionary stewardship of entrepreneur and Chairman, Mr. Nandana Lokuwithana, the steel giant was resurrected, renovated and refurbished in its entirety, with the infusion of state-of-the-art-technology and plant expansion to take its place as a leader and trendsetter in the steel industry.
