The public sector Hindustan Latex Ltd (HLL), the country's largest manufacturer of contraceptives, has recorded its highest turnover ever of Rs 150 crore during 2002-03 registering a growth of 20 per cent compared to the previous year. The company had also registered the highest profits ever of Rs 20.30 crore during last fiscal year with a growth rate of 31.30 per cent, G Rajamohan, Chairman and Managing Director said.

HLL declared an interim dividend of Rs 2.50 crore to the Union Government for the period, he added. On the export front too, the company has had a notable year with an achievement of Rs 13 crore, a growth of 41.3 per cent than the previous year.

HLL was presently in the process of conducting nation wide field tests to ascertain user response and acceptance of female condoms. The unit to be set up shortly would be an export oriented one and have an annual installed capacity of eight million pieces, he said.

HLL also had envisaged to set up a unit at its Kanagala centre in Belgaum for the production of Centchroman Bulk Drug, the basic raw material for the non hormonal and non steroid, once a week oral contraceptive pill, Saheli

As part of its diversification programme, HLL set up a unit for the manufacture of Surgical Sutures at Akkulam near Thiruvananthapuram with an installed capacity for the production of 1.5 million individual strips per annum.