Business
‘Colossal amounts of vegetables and fruits going waste in SL due to non-adoption of greenhouse technology’
By Hiran H.Senewiratne
Sri Lanka farmers should adopt more affordable high tech/mid tech farming methods, such as greenhouse cultivation, to increase yield and minimize post- harvest waste in fruit and vegetable produce, like in Netherlands, chairman, Agri Innovation and Lassana Group of companies Dr. Lasantha Malavige said.
“Netherlands being half the size of Sri Lanka, is the second largest fresh food exporter in the world. It adopts state- of- the- art technology, like the greenhouse concept, to ensure higher yields against environmental/climate and other external and internal changes, Malavige told the media at a function at the Hilton Colombo last week.
At the function Malavige announced that his company had entered into a partnership agreement with Ginegar India and Agrilast India, to open its doors to advanced green solutions for local farmers to ensure higher yield and safer food production for Sri Lanka.
Malavige went on to add: ‘Sri Lanka’s post- harvest waste of fresh fruit and vegetables is 35 percent to 40 percent while another 20 percent to 30 percent is considered to be of poor quality due to lack of proper knowledge among farmers of the relevant applications of chemicals and of the plants’ vulnerability to climate change due to the continued adoption by them of traditional farming methods.
‘At present the Netherlands has a greenhouse fresh food agriculture cultivation covering more than 40000 hectares but unfortunately Sri Lanka has less than 200 hectares to cultivate fresh food greenhouses. Due to non- use of technology used in the fresh food industry in our traditional farming methods, we incur low yields due to climate change and other external and internal factors.
“The adoption of greenhouse technology would empower local traditional farmers to produce high quality safe food at an affordable price for consumers. Apart from that, a kilogram of carrots costs more than Rs. 1000 in Sri Lanka, while in the UK it costs approximately one Sterling Pound, which is equivalent to Rs 408. This had happened due to irregular weather patterns or continuous rains and other farming deficiencies compounded by the adoption of traditional farming methods in Sri Lanka.
‘Lassana Agri Innovation guides farmers in choosing the right technological solution by moving away from traditional farming, offering advice, guidance and support for higher yields. For that purpose the company plans to launch a first in the country incubation and knowledge- sharing centre for hi-tech farming at its 7- hectare greenhouse facility in Divulapitiya.’
CEO Lassana Agri Innovations, Prasand Sanadeera, said that their Centre will empower new entrants and farmer entrepreneurs, doubling the extent of greenhouse cultivation every two years over the next decade.
‘With over 70 years of combined experience, Ginegar Agriplast has been a game changer in the agriculture sector, assisting over 250,000 farmers in India. The company is also renowned for top- notch farming products, including greenhouse covers, he added.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
In a major boost to bilateral economic ties, the Chamber of Construction Industry of Sri Lanka (CCISL) and the Indo–Sri Lanka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (ISCCI) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to deepen cooperation in real estate, infrastructure, and urban development.
The agreement establishes a formal framework for both institutions to drive collaborative initiatives, including business delegations, high-level conferences, workshops, B2B matchmaking sessions, and technical site visits. Designed to bridge businesses, government institutions, and project stakeholders across the Palk Strait, the partnership aims to unlock new avenues for cross-border joint ventures and technology transfers.
A focal point of this newly minted partnership is the facilitation of an upcoming trade delegation from the National Real Estate Development Council (NAREDCO) of India. Comprising major Indian players in the real estate and infrastructure sectors, the visiting delegation will engage in targeted business meetings, workshops, and inspection tours of prominent construction projects in Sri Lanka.
Under the terms of the MoU, CCISL will serve as the principal host coordinator in Sri Lanka. In close consultation with ISCCI, the apex construction body will curate itineraries, identify viable projects for engagement, and facilitate high-level dialogues with key government agencies, regulatory bodies, and industry leaders.
With both nations prioritizing sustainable urban growth, modern construction technologies, and infrastructure expansion, industry leaders view the partnership as a timely catalyst for economic rejuvenation. The collaboration is anticipated to accelerate market access, knowledge exchange, and foreign direct investment into Sri Lanka’s burgeoning property and development sectors.
To ensure the success of the upcoming NAREDCO delegation, CCISL has issued an urgent appeal to statutory authorities and relevant project owners to come forward with viable investment proposals. Stakeholders holding projects seeking foreign investment or technical partnerships are invited to submit comprehensive details to the Secretary General and CEO of CCISL via email at secyces@gmail.com.
Both chambers emphasize that translating this foundational agreement into tangible partnerships and robust capital flows will significantly strengthen bilateral connectivity between the construction and real estate sectors of India and Sri Lanka.
Hettich, the globally renowned German manufacturer of furniture fittings and architectural hardware known for its state-of-the-art manufacturing plants and magical interior solutions across the world celebrated a significant milestone in Sri Lanka, marking 10 years of presence in the country with its inaugural Partner Meet in Colombo.
The landmark event brought together Hettich’s key partners, stakeholders and industry leaders to celebrate a decade of growth, collaboration and shared success, while reaffirming the company’s long-term commitment to the Sri Lankan market.
Over the past decade, Hettich has strengthened its presence in Sri Lanka through its focus on German engineering, innovation, quality and functionality, contributing to the creation of contemporary and intelligently designed living and working spaces across the country.
The gala evening was graced by a distinguished delegation of senior leaders, including Dr. Andreas Hettich, Chairman, Hettich Group Advisory Board; S. K. Poddar, Chairman, Hettich India & Adventz Group; Mr. Akshay Poddar, Director, Hettich India; Andre Eckholt, Managing Director, Hettich India, SAARC, Middle East & Africa; Rahul Thakkar, Director – Sales, Hettich India & SAARC; and Dinusha Bhaskaran, Managing Director, Vallibel One PLC.
GS Evo Motors Limited, the authorized distributor of JMEV electric vehicles in Sri Lanka, has officially launched the JMEV EWIND, a next-generation compact electric SUV. The vehicle is designed to offer strong performance, intelligent technology, premium comfort, and high safety standards, marking another milestone in Sri Lanka’s growing electric mobility sector.
The EWIND features a sleek, aerodynamic exterior with penetrating LED daytime running lights, trapezoidal chain-inspired LED tail lamps, 19-inch alloy wheels, and a bold silhouette. Inside, it offers a spacious cabin with a panoramic moonroof and retractable curtain, an ultra-thin suspended instrument panel, a D-shaped multifunction steering wheel, multi-colour ambient lighting, premium finishes, and electrically adjustable front seats.
The SUV is available in single-motor front-wheel drive configurations, producing up to 108 kW and 210 Nm, with 0–100 km/h acceleration in 8.9 seconds.
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