M/S Ceylon Beverage Can Pvt Ltd of Sri Lanka, promoted by former Sri Lanka ace spinner  Muttiah Muralitharan, had sent a proposal to the Government of Karnataka seeking clearance for setting up an ‘aluminum cans and beverages filling plant’ at FMCG cluster on the outskirts of Dharwad. The Sri Lankan company  will set up a full-fledged plant in Mummigatti off Dharwad in Karnataka, Deccan Herald (DH) reported on Thursday. The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) has allotted 16.70 acres of land at plot no 157, 2.64 acres on plot no 156 and 6.15 acres on plot no 158. Clearance has also been accorded for providing 3,000 kVA power by Hescom and 20 lakh litres of water per day. The Sri Lankan company currently manufactures eight different sizes of slim, sleek and standard cans with a range of customer labels. It is setting up a plant in India owing to huge demand from this region. In May, Ceylon Beverage tied up with Reliance Consumer Products to manufacture the cans for Campa soft drink. Ceylon Beverages was established in 2020 and partners with several companies making mineral water, energy drinks, soft drinks and flavoured milk in cans. It has an hourly output of over 48,000 cans and 34,000 bottles. The company’s plant is equipped to fill 300 million cans per year. The Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), according to DH, has allotted 16.70 acres of land at plot no 157, 2.64 acres on plot no 156 and 6.15 acres on plot no 158. Clearance has also been accorded for providing 3,000 kVA power by Hescom and 20 lakh litres of water per day. Reliance Consumer Products Ltd has signed up former cricketer Muttiah Muralitharan’s Ceylon Beverage International as the contract packaging partner for the Campa Cola beverage brand’s canning operations. The agreement may also grant Reliance Consumer distribution rights for Sri-Lanka based Ceylon Beverage’s energy drinks and juices in India, expanding its presence in the nation’s ₹67,000 crore beverage market, people familiar with the development said, requesting anonymity. Ceylon Beverage may also establish a packaging facility in India to support the national expansion of the Campa brand; currently Campa cans rely on direct imports from its Sri Lankan factory Reliance Consumer already has partnerships with multiple Indian manufacturers and distributors for the Campa brand, including those with Tamil Nadu-based Asian Beverage and Kali Aerated Water Works. Muralitharan is expected to become a “major” partner for Reliance Consumer’s beverage portfolio in India, people familiar with the development said. Ceylon Beverage’s energy brand Spinner and its juices will be retailed by Reliance Consumer in India as part of the deal, officials said. Campa, initially launched in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, is preparing for a national rollout following its acquisition by Reliance Consumer from the Pure Drinks Group last year.