Corporate History

The Linde Group has a history of over 130 years built on a heritage of innovation with a strong focus on technology. The company’s founder, Carl von Linde, invented refrigeration technology and pioneered a process of air separation. Today, we are a global market leader in gases and engineering solutions.

Ceylon Oxygen Limited (COL), a member of The Linde Group, is the leading industrial gas supplier in Sri Lanka since 1936. COL manufactures and distributes industrial, specialty and medical gases, welding products, and provides a range of related services including the installation of gas equipment, pipelines and associated engineering services. COL is present in all the major industrial areas across the country and is committed to delivering quality and reliable services and solutions that create value for its customers.

Our Milestones

1936      Incorporated as a fully owned subsidiary of British Oxygen Company International Limited.
1949 Renamed Ceylon Oxygen and Acetylene Company and established first gaseous oxygen plant in Sri Lanka.
1958

Renamed Ceylon Oxygen Limited (COL).
1959 Moved its head office to Mattakkuliya from Kotahena.
1976

Vested in the Government of Sri Lanka on 5 November.
1981 Inaugurated the first nitrous oxide plant in Sri Lanka.
1982

Inaugurated the first air separation plant in Sri Lanka with a productioncapacity of 400m3/hr in Mattakkuliya; Acquired first liquid oxygen customer, Ceylon Government Railway.
1990

Privatised on 27 November, with majority shares owned by Norsk Hydro A.S. of Norway.
1995 Inaugurated the first carbon dioxide plant in Sri Lanka, capable of producing liquid carbon dioxide and gaseous carbon dioxide and dry ice.
2004

Opened sales depot in Anuradhapura.
2006

Through a demerger transaction in accordance with Norwegian
Law, Yara International ASA (a spin-off from Norsk Hydro agricultural business) became COL’s major shareholder on 9 May.

COL was acquired by Specialist Gases Private Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Actis South Asia Fund 2 on 30 September.
2010 Linde acquired COL on 15 October, COL became a wholly owned subsidiary of The Linde Group.
 2011    Celebrated 75 years of operations in Sri Lanka.