Business
Sri Lanka’s Agarwood tree value may well soar above Rs. 1 million with product diversification
By Sanath Nanayakkare
The value of an Agarwood (Wallapatta) tree in Sri Lanka will soar to more than Rs. 1 million by 2028 with properly curated product diversification, Kumar Dharmasena, Chairman of Pintanna Plantations said in Ayagama- Ratnapura on Saturday.
He said so while pledging to make Ayagama the heart of Agarwood farming in Sri Lanka along with high-tech processing of the perfumery end-product. He was speaking at an event where the Sri Lanka Philatelic Bureau of the Department of Posts issued a commemorative stamp and first day cover recognising his forest products company’s contribution to the economy and the society at large.
Dharmasena unveiled a newly constructed multi-purpose building equipped with modern technology at Pintanna Estate coinciding with the commemorative stamp launch.
“We specialize in cultivating, adding value and exporting the processed end- product extracted from this most commercially valued tree to the global market and we bring foreign exchange to the country. I believed in this dream for many years when hardly anyone wanted to believe in it. We had only a limited number of investors who bought our plants those days and they also invested in the project placing trust in me rather than in the project’s future. But today, as the company possesses tangible assets in terms of increased farming land of Agarwood, manufacturing and processing plants, R&D centre, dedicated staff and sales centres in UAE, Saudi Arabia and Oman under ‘Silani ‘ brand, more and more investors are placing their trust in our growth trajectory. I think with proper product diversification, we should be able to increase the value of an Agarwood tree to more than Rs. 1 million by 2028. I invite potential investors to study and explore what we have achieved so far and join with us in our forward journey. By investing in Agarwood, you will get a good return on your investment and it will also help create a greener future for Sri Lanka,” he said.
Presenting return on investments (ROI) to a group of investors who had bought Agarwood plants three years ago, he said,” Today they got more than 22% ROI on their investments which is more attractive than current market interest rates. Having seen our growth and capacity, some investors have decided to reinvest their returns in the project on a longer term further encouraging us.”
“Today we are engaged in the total cycle of commercialization of Agarwood. At our state-of-the-art laboratory, we study and research this phenomenal Agarwood tree to harness more uses from it. Each successful experiment has proved to us that there is more to it than meets the eye. Our R&D activities will ensure consistent growth of our product portfolio beyond making Agarwood chips and Oud oil distilling. Agarwood tea is another one of our innovative products. In the years ahead, we will be focusing on using the extract of Agarwood in 102 products in addition to its main products. We have not achieved at least 50% of our potential yet. When our ‘Unanduwa’ perfume brand goes global and when our planned local and global expansion drive is completed, that will make up 50% of our journey,” he noted.
He went on to say that Wallapatta which gives the best of fragrances of Agarwood family is uniquely endemic to Sri Lanka, and therefore, all stakeholders engaged in the industry have a duty to safeguard the uniqueness of Sri Lankan Wallapatta without transporting its seeds beyond the country’s borders.
The event also saw the unveiling of Sri Lanka’s first Agarwood Museum which Dharmasena said would serve to ignite entrepreneurial spirit among Sri Lankan youth, requesting them to work hard and think innovatively to achieve success for themselves and the country.
By Sanath Nanayakkare
Continuing its mission to drive inclusive economic recovery and empower Sri Lanka’s grassroots business sector, the Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC has actively accelerated the disbursement of the Asian Development Bank’s (ADB) Enhancing Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Finance Project line of credit.
As Sri Lanka’s premier private sector lender, Commercial Bank drives regional development by bridging financial gaps outside the Western Province. Jaffna and the broader Northern Province remain pivotal focus areas due to their immense potential for industrial regeneration, vibrant agricultural output, and entrepreneurial resilience in the post-crisis economic landscape.
Directing targeted, affordable financing enables local enterprises to overcome historical financing barriers, expand production capacity, and stimulate employment across regional supply chains.
Quality at the Source: ADB Country Director Shannon Cowlin inspects a bottle of premium sesame oil at the New V.S.P. Gingelly Oil factory floor in Jaffna. Working capital facilities extended through Commercial Bank under the ADB line of credit enable manufacturers like Harish Industries to meet growing wholesale and retail demand across Sri Lanka while securing long-term economic resilience.
The dedicated credit scheme offers affordable interest rates to help small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rebound from recent macroeconomic shocks, maintain employment stability, and build long-term sustainability. Designed to target underserved segments, the funding line prioritizes viable enterprises located outside the Colombo district, women-owned and women-led businesses, and ventures incorporating strong climate finance components. Eligible sectors span manufacturing, agriculture, animal husbandry, technology, tourism, and direct export industries.
A standout beneficiary showcasing the transformative impact of this regional focus is Harish Industries, a flourishing manufacturing firm located within the purview of Commercial Bank’s Manipay branch in Jaffna. Owned and operated by proprietor Ponnuchamy Prabakaran, Harish Industries manufactures premium sesame oil under the popular brand name “New VSP Gingelly Oil”.
The working capital facility extended by the line of credit to Harish Industries helped to cater to short-term liquidity needs, ease out cash flow pressure, and operate the business in a sustainable manner.
Additionally, this financial backing helped create more employment opportunities, strengthen its supply chain, and expand business operations to meet growing wholesale and retail demand across Sri Lanka.
by Sanath Nanayakkare
True corporate leadership extends far beyond financial metrics and market dominance. For the Commercial Bank of Ceylon – recognised as Sri Lanka’s top-ranked bank in the 2026 edition of The Banker’s Top 1000 World Banks and the country’s first 100% carbon-neutral bank—true progress means investing directly in the nation’s ecological health.
On 19 September, the Bank demonstrated how a massive institutional infrastructure can be mobilised for the greater good.
Marking International Coastal Cleanup Day 2026 under its “Forward Together for a Cleaner Future” platform, the Bank brought together employees, corporate management, customers, and volunteers for a coordinated national conservation initiative spanning 20 locations.
What sets this effort apart is its deliberate breadth. The campaign moved far beyond a conventional beach cleanup by integrating 16 coastal sites – including prominent Colombo locations like Mount Lavinia, Wellawatte, and Galle Face, alongside regional spots from Point Pedro to Dondra – with four vital inland waterways, such as the Mahaweli River at Polgolla Dam and Parakrama Samudraya. This structural reach ensured that even inland communities could actively participate in a unified national environmental mission.
This massive undertaking was anchored by robust partnerships, working alongside the Marine Environment Protection Authority (MEPA) as the technical partner and the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Network Sri Lanka. By translating its formal 2025 adoption of Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) and its role as a UNGC Patron into boots-on-the-ground volunteerism, the Bank bridged high-level environmental policy with grassroots action.
Ultimately, Commercial Bank’s nationwide mobilisation proves that when a premier financial institution harnesses its expansive network, corporate responsibility stops being a theoretical framework and becomes a tangible, community-driven force for a cleaner future.
The grand halls of the Taj Samudra in Colombo buzzed with a distinct energy on the morning of September 25, 2026, as leaders gathered for the National Celebration of World Tourism Day.
Yet, beneath the formal discussions on digital agendas and artificial intelligence, a deeper, more vibrant narrative was quietly unfolding. This was not merely a story of algorithms and automated efficiency; it was a human story – a tale of Sri Lanka’s youth stepping forward to redesign the future of hospitality.
For generations, Sri Lanka’s allure has been rooted in its timeless landscapes, golden shores, and the legendary warmth of its people. But as global travel evolves, a new generation of tech-savvy local innovators is finding ways to weave cutting-edge technology into the rich tapestry of Sri Lankan culture. This shift took center stage during the Tourism Start-Up Competition 2026, held under the theme “AI-Driven Innovation for the Future of Tourism”.
Out of 52 competitive applications spanning tertiary and commercial levels, young minds proved that technology and tradition can go hand in hand.
The twenty-five shortlisted teams stood before expert panels to defend visions that bridge the gap between ancient heritage and modern data intelligence.
Behind every submitted AI solution was a young entrepreneur eager to protect local destinations, enhance visitor experiences, and elevate service delivery.
When the twelve winners were finally honoured, the celebration transformed into something much greater than an awards ceremony.
It served as a powerful reminder that the true engine of Sri Lanka’s digital transformation is its youth. Armed with code, creativity, and a profound love for their country, these young visionaries are ensuring that when travelers explore Sri Lanka, they do not just witness the future – they feel the heartbeat of a new, digitally empowered era of hospitality.
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