Ministers visited Kurundugaha Hethekma to uplift cinnamon industry
The Director General of the Department of Cinnamon Development stated yesterday to Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Land and Irrigation K.D. Lalkantha and Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Livestock Namal Karunaratne, who joined its inspection that the aim is to achieve an income of one billion dollars from domestic cinnamon exports by the year 2030. The purpose of this inspection tour was to examine the problems that have currently arisen for the Department of Cinnamon Development and cinnamon export industry factory owners as well as cinnamon cultivators and nursery owners.
The problems of field officers employed at the Department of Cinnamon Development were conveyed to the Minister, and it was stated that those issues would be examined and quick solutions would be provided regarding measures that could be taken to resolve them. Subsequently, after joining the inspection of several cinnamon export factories, they also engaged in a discussion with cinnamon exporters, cinnamon cultivators, and nursery owners.
Cinnamon exporters pointed out to the Minister that Sri Lanka could obtain a competitive market by opening up domestic cinnamon products, which are currently exported only to a few South American countries, to European countries. The problems that have arisen for this purpose as well as obtaining the land necessary to expand cinnamon cultivation throughout Sri Lanka were discussed here. Furthermore, cinnamon exporters requested the Minister to provide the modern technical knowledge necessary to export value-added cinnamon products to European countries, and to provide the necessary support for domestic cinnamon cultivators to participate in international trade exhibitions.
The Minister informed the cinnamon exporters that prompt action would be taken regarding obtaining the international quality certifications necessary for export to European countries, as well as providing technical knowledge and the land necessary to expand this cultivation.
A group including Members of Parliament from Galle district and the Director General of the Department of Cinnamon Development participated in this occasion.
