• The exotic yellow mandarin introduced from Japan thrives in the agro-climatic conditions of Bandarawela and Rahangala
•  The abandoned tea estates in the area are ideal for the commercial cultivation of the crop

BY RANDIMA ATTYGALLE

Sri Lanka’s orange and mandarin imports alone recorded 8,135 mt. in 2022, according to Department of Agriculture’s (DOA) statistics. This corresponded to Rs 1.158 Million. The sizable annual expenditure incurred for mandarin imports could be significantly reduced if locally cultivable varieties could be promoted among farmers and potential large scale fruit exporters, Former Director of the Fruit Research and Development Institute, (FRDI) W.D. Lesly tells the Sunday Island. The scientist who had done extensive research on Sri Lanka’s potential for the yellow mandarin, encourages cultivators from areas such as Bandarawela and Rahangala where the crop thrives, to take a renewed interest in it.

Mandarin botanically known as Citrus reticulata is considered to be a distinct species of Citrus genus. The mandarin is smaller and oblate and is sweeter and stronger in taste than the common orange. Mandarins are usually easier to peel and to split into segments than the common orange.

Local exotic yellow mandarin

China is the top mandarin producing country today. Spain, Turkey, Morocco and Japan are also among the other leading mandarin producing countries.

Premium Japanese varieties

In 2006 Lesly who was then a fruit scientist at the FRDI, was sent to Japan for a one-year training in mandarin research. “FRDI had a collaboration with Japan’s Ehime Prefectural International Center (EPIC) and Ehime Fruit Tree Research Station. And as part of this programme, I had the good fortune of getting hands-on-experience in Ehime which the Japanese call the ‘Citrus Kingdom.’ Ehime is Japan’s largest citrus-producing region.”

After completing his training in Japan, Lesly introduced eight premium Japanese varieties of mandarin to Sri Lanka which he trialed in eight different agro-climatic conditions across the island. The varieties were trailed in Horana (where FRDI is located), Angunukolapelessa, Gannoruwa, Seetha Eliya, Bandarawela, Rahangala, Girandurukotte and Monaragala.

After seven years of extensive research which tested the crop’s yield, fruit quality and adaptability, in 2013 three out of the eight varieties were identified as the best to suit the climatic conditions of up country intermediate highlands. “This region is the one that is closest to Japan’s Ehime’s agro-climate in which mandarin thrives. Today Bandarawela and Rahangala which have a cool-dry climate and lie 3,800 ft above sea level, are considered to be the best mandarin-growing regions here at home. This particular environmental condition is essential for turning the fruit peel colour to yellow when ripened and to develop the deep yellow colour and sweetness of the pulp.”

The three exotic varieties which were recommended and released for cultivation by the Varietal Release Committee of the Department of Agriculture are known as Horana-Ehime 1, 2 and 3 in recognition of the FRDI-Ehime collaboration. “In terms of the quality and taste, these three varieties are on par with the yellow mandarins which are imported. We largely import the fruit from Pakistan and India incurring a significant expenditure. In 2022 alone, we have imported 8,135 Mt. of orange and mandarin worth of Rs. 1,158 million.”

W.D Lesly

High yielding crop

Since the release of the three promising high-yielding varieties more than 10 years ago, the interest taken in them by local farmers is still minimal, laments Lesly who calls for renewed interest in this high-yielding crop. Lesly who succeeded in securing funds for the expansion of the crop under Council for Agriculture Research Policy (CARP) and Korea Plant Industries Association (KOPIA) distributed nearly 30,000 plants among farmers under the two schemes. The sales center of seed and planting material development center in Kahagolla and Agriculture Research Station in Rahangala provides planting materials of these mandarin varieties to farmers today.

The crop’s harvesting seasons are from March to April and August to September. “The demand for these varieties are high and the local produce is bought predominantly by supermarkets in the area. The fruit is also seedless and contains a higher quantity of beta-carotene than common mandarins” says Lesly.

Utilizing abandoned tea lands

Although ideally promoted as a monocrop, the yellow mandarin can also be grown along the land borders of large vegetable plots, points out the scientist. “The fruit yields a bumper harvest in prime vegetable-growing areas of the country. Since the farmers prioritize vegetable cultivation in the area, not much importance is still given to this promising crop,” says Lesly who goes onto note that abandoned tea lands of up country intermediate zone are ideal for commercial cultivation of the crop and calls upon fruit growers to come forward to invest in it.

Transformed its Pool Terrace into a festive haven, as guests gathered for the highly anticipated annual Christmas cake mixing ceremony said a press release.

The event, steeped in tradition and filled with festive cheer, marked the official start of the holiday season at the hotel, drawing a crowd of media personalities, guests, and hotel staff.

This age-old tradition, with its origins in Europe, particularly in England, has evolved over time to become a symbol of togetherness, joy, and community spirit. As the event unfolded, participants rolled up their sleeves to mix a delightful blend of dried fruits, nuts, and spices, each contributing their own touch to the Christmas cakes that will be prepared in the coming weeks. The air was filled with the aromatic scents of festive ingredients, while laughter and holiday stories were shared, reflecting the very essence of the season.

The ceremony was more than just a celebration of baking—it embodied the spirit of unity. Families, friends, and colleagues came together to blend not only flavors but also their holiday memories, fostering a sense of belonging and togetherness. The occasion also honored the timeless practice of passing down recipes and traditions from one generation to the next, adding a personal touch to the Christmas preparations.

The evening culminated in a festive toast, as glasses were raised in celebration of friendship, community, and the magic of Christmas. The hotel’s General Manager: Mr. Nazoomi Azhar took a moment to express gratitude to all participants for their enthusiasm, noting how the event highlighted the hotel’s commitment to creating memorable experiences that bring people together.

With the Christmas cake mixing ceremony, Cinnamon Lakeside Colombo has set the tone for the upcoming festive season, blending tradition with modern flair to create a truly heartwarming celebration. The ceremony captured the joy and unity that define the holiday season, leaving guests excited for the festivities that lie ahead.

As the evening drew to a close, attendees left with the warmth of the season in their hearts, cherishing the new memories made during this special gathering.

A vegetarian diet may lower your risk for urinary tract infections (UTIs), according to a study published in Scientific Reports. Researchers tracked UTI incidence rates for 9,724 vegetarian and nonvegetarian participants. Results showed a 16 percent decreased risk for UTIs among those following a vegetarian diet. Vegetarians, of course, do not consume poultry or pork, allowing them to avoid a strain of E. coli bacteria normally associated with UTIs. They also consume more fibre from plant-based foods that better regulate gut bacteria.

Giving up meat could reduce levels of certain E coli bacteria strains in bowel, say scientists.

Ditching meat may reduce the risk of urinary tract infections, at least in women, research suggests.

Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are common and painful, with more than 150m cases around the world every year.

Infections in otherwise healthy individuals are generally caused by certain strains of E coli bacteria that can cause problems outside of the gut. These typically live in the bowel, and sometimes the vagina, but can end up entering the urethra, resulting in an infection there or further up the urinary tract, in the bladder.

Women are particularly affected by UTIs, such as cystitis, because the distance from the anus to the urethra and the length of the urethra itself are both shorter. The urethra is also close to the vagina, meaning bacteria can be easily transferred during sex.

While UTIs can be treated with antibiotics, there has been a rise in persistent infections, a trend potentially driven by an increase in antibiotic resistance and greater concerns about prescribing antibiotics in the first place.

Now a study involving Buddhists in Taiwan has revealed that those who follow a vegetarian diet have a lower risk of developing a UTI than those who eat meat.

Everything you ever wanted to know about urinary tract infections

The team behind the study say that may be because meat, particularly pork and poultry, is known to contain the strains of E coli bacteria that cause many UTIs. By ditching a meat-eating diet, the theory goes, people decrease their exposure to these bacteria, reducing levels in the bowel and hence lowering the risk they will end up in the urethra.

But there may be another effect.

“Vegetarian diets [lead to] lower stool pH than for non-vegetarians, and the lower stool pH could prevent the growth of E coli,” said Dr Chin-Lon Lin, co-author of the research from Tzu Chi University in Taiwan.

However, others warned that the study did not look at the impact of switching diet, noting that the problematic E coli might linger among internal microbial communities in former meat-eaters.

“We simply don’t know if an established reservoir [of these bacteria] in one’s gut microbiota could be easily ousted by a diet change – though it would make an interesting future study,” said Dr Jennifer Rohn, the head of the centre for urological biology at University College London.

UTI test often fails to detect infection, say researchers

Overall the team say a vegetarian diet was linked to a 16% lower risk of developing a UTI, compared with meat eating, after taking into account potentially influencing factors such as age, sex, lifestyle and other health conditions, including those that may predispose a participant to UTIs.

However, further analysis revealed the reduced risk of UTIs among vegetarians was only clear in women, non-smoking participants and “uncomplicated UTIs” – those that crop up in otherwise healthy people.

The team say the latter was not surprising, as E coli is only thought to cause about 50% of “complicated” UTIs – those involving a predisposition to an infection, such as urinary tract stones, having a catheter, or renal failure.

However, the study only questioned participants at one point in time and relied on self-report.

Dr Jim Johnson, an expert in an infectious diseases at the University of Minnesota, pointed out that the study did not take into account family history of UTIs, the frequency with which participants had sex or the method of contraception – all of which can affect UTI risk. He added that vegetarians might be less likely to seek help for a UTI or might choose “alternative” remedies.

He also stressed the difference shown in the study was modest, equating to about three fewer infections per 10,000 people .

The Scientist