With Golden Cylinder Award Varna Packaging evinces excellence as a pioneer in gravure industry

Varna Ltd. Managing Director Channa Lalin Wickremesinghe (second from right) with President and committee members of Gravure Association of the Americas (GAA) and the Association of International Metallisers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL)

Varna, the very first flexible packaging company to be established in Sri Lanka, was recently recognised with the prestigious Golden Cylinder Award in the ‘Innovative Novel Gravure Printing’ category at Gravure Technical Forum 2022 organised by the Gravure Association of the Americas (GAA) and the Association of International Metallisers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL).



The ceremony was held on 26 September in Orlando, United States with the presence of industry leaders of knowledge, experience, and reputation in the gravure industry, including but not limited to professionals, designers, educators and publishers.

A testament to Varna’s vision to deliver innovative packaging solutions that provide the greatest benefit to humanity while minimising the impact on the planet, the Golden Cylinder award was accorded in recognition of the “Best of the Best” among the most creative and highest quality gravure print projects produced by various gravure operators throughout the globe.

The competition is conducted annually to promote the gravure process and provide peer recognition for technical achievement in each industry segment. Golden Cylinder award accurately reflects the distinctive competencies and capabilities of Varna in various gravure specialisations spheres of packaging and label, product, publication, and technical innovation.

Incorporated in 1961, Varna was founded by C.E.L Wickremesinghe by introducing rotogravure printing wrappers for the local confectionery industry for the first time in Sri Lanka. Over the last 60 years, Varna has reinforced its commitment to quality through innovation, advanced technology and collaboration while maintaining its position as the market leader for flexible packaging manufacturing.

Speaking of the achievement, Varna Ltd. Managing Director Channa Lalin Wickremesinghe expressed his gratitude to the company’s strategic partners that helped Varna reach from strength to strength.

“Golden Cylinder award is both an honour and an opportunity for Varna to take the name of the homegrown company to the international arena. I wish to take this opportunity to thank our valued business partners namely Maliban Group Sri Lanka, our ink business partner Sithara Ltd., our cylinder engraver Lanka Uchen and other machinery and raw material suppliers for making this journey possible.”

“While having personal pride, let me also add a contextual observation. This award opens the pathway to markets of the future and is an encouragement to those in our industry located worldwide,” Wickremesinghe added.

Varna strives to venture beyond traditional boundaries and continue to make an impact at the forefront of the local flexible packaging industry. Aligning with the United Nations’ net-zero emissions goal by 2050, Varna is committed towards achieving carbon neutrality with the aim of becoming a truly net positive organisation within the next ten years.