Life style

The story of the Ceylon spice: harvesting ‘true cinnamon’

Published

3 years ago

2023/03/26

By Zinara Rathnayake

It is 9am in the Carlton estate in Thihagoda, a small town about 160km (100 miles) south of Sri Lanka’s capital Colombo, and the July sun hides behind inky clouds. The air is thick and hot. Two men walk to the main estate building carrying piles of cinnamon branches. Inside, a group of women sit on the cement floor, chatting as they peel cinnamon.

Since 2000, workers here have planted, harvested and peeled cinnamon, sending batches of the fragrant sticks to a factory in Kamburupitiya, a 15-minute drive away, where they are cut, packed and loaded onto shipping containers for export.

Cinnamon harvesting usually takes place from June to December when the monsoon skies burst into downpours. But here at Rathna Producers Cinnamon Exports, it is produced throughout the year on the 42-acre (17 hectares) estate. “When we are done harvesting one acre, the next acre is ready,” says Chamara Lakshith, 28, the estate’s visiting officer, whose job involves coordinating between the estate and the main office in Kamburupitiya. “But sometimes for a few weeks, the bark is so hard that you can’t peel cinnamon. We know it by looking at the trees; young leaves turn striking red.”

The family business that began in 1985 is run by Ravindu Runage, whose late father started in the cinnamon trade with 7,000 Sri Lankan rupees ($35) to buy cinnamon from small farmers and sell it to bigger traders.

Now, Runage says the company is one of the largest cinnamon producers in Sri Lanka, exporting cinnamon and other spices like nutmeg and black pepper to 56 countries. Apart from growing organic cinnamon, the company also sources it from 8,000 individual and small-scale farmers and exports more than 30 containers of cinnamon a month.

“We grew up with cinnamon,” says 36-year-old Runage, at his office in Kamburupitiya, surrounded by several industry awards his family has won over the years. “We lived in a two-bedroom house. We slept in one room. In the other room, my thaththa [father] stored cinnamon.”

Once they were in the business, the Runage family learned that Mexico is one of the biggest cinnamon consumers. “So thaththa learned English and visited Mexico in 1998 to find a buyer,” says Runage. “But they spoke Spanish. So thaththa sent his business cards to companies he found in a telephone book.”

“Five months later, we sold our first container of cinnamon to Mexico.”

The world’s best cinnamon

There are two types of cinnamon in the Western market: Ceylon cinnamon (named after the title British colonisers gave to Sri Lanka) and cassia. Ceylon cinnamon is native to Sri Lanka; it has a lush, inviting scent and a sweet taste, and its quills are soft and light brown in colour. Cassia comes from other Asian countries like China, Indonesia and Vietnam; its bark is sturdy with a rough texture, it is dark brown in colour and is stronger and hotter in taste. Cassia is considered lower quality, while Ceylon often triumphs as the pure, “true cinnamon”.

The process of producing this cinnamon includes several laborious, time-consuming steps. This is also why Ceylon cinnamon is expensive in the market while cassia is cheap, Runage says.

At the estate, seeds are planted in grow bags. After one year, saplings are cultivated. Harvesting begins four years later.

Ravindu Runage’s late father started Rathna Producers Cinnamon Exports in 1985; they have now won several industry awards

For harvesting, farmers cut down the branches of cinnamon trees at an angle, which allows cinnamon bushes to regrow, Lakshith says. Young and tender twigs are thrown away. Once branches are soaked in water and are moist enough, peelers remove the outermost layer of the cinnamon bark. To produce thin cinnamon quills, they spend hours stripping off the inner bark of the cinnamon branch in sheets.

Once produced, Ceylon cinnamon quills are graded based on their width; the thinner the quills, the higher they are in value. Alba is the highest form of cinnamon, with a diameter of 6mm. H1 is a lower grade of cinnamon, with a diameter of 22mm. In the export market, Alba costs twice as much as H1.

A generational craft

With a hearty smile, Suduhakuru Piyathilake holds a large batch of cinnamon quills. Piyathilake and his wife have been living in an old, dilapidated house next to the estate’s main building for 10 years now.

At 5am every day, Piyathilake heads off to the plantation. After collecting branches from about 15 trees, he plods back to the water tank in the main building, drops them off for soaking and returns to the plantation. He must make several trips back and forth before he begins peeling.

“When it’s moist, it’s easy to peel,” says the 55-year-old. “That’s why we cut them early in the morning and soak them.”

When the clock hits 10am, Piyathilake comes back with the last batch. After five hours, he has collected the branches of 200 trees. Sweat trickles down his forehead. A resident kitten swats at his feet, but Piyathilake ignores it and rushes in for a shower.

After a two-hour break, he sharpens his knife by scraping the outer bark of the branch and then he gets to work. “This is what my father and his father did,” he says. “Now my sons are cinnamon peelers.”

Piyathilake has been peeling cinnamon for the last 43 years. He learned the craft from his father in their village in Elpitiya, 70km north of the Runage family estate, where his children live with his mother. At home, cinnamon trees adorn their back yard, Piyathilake says. “But it’s a small garden so we can’t harvest cinnamon every day of the year. We don’t make much money there. So I work here with my wife. We only see our children once in every four months.”

Piyathilake is so adept at work that he can masterfully strip off extremely thin barks of the cinnamon branch by merely measuring them next to his index finger. After peeling the outer bark, he makes two cuts on two opposite sides before peeling off the inner bark. A half a length cut of your smallest bone is for Alba, Piyathilake says. For “rough” or H1 cinnamon quills, Piyathilake uses the length of two bones of his index finger.

However, even for experienced generational peelers like Piyathilake, making extremely thin Alba cinnamon is profitless. By 10pm – when he sets off to sleep – Piyathilake can have peeled about 5kg of lower grade cinnamon, earning about 2,500 rupees ($12.50) per kilogramme. “But I will only make just one kilo of Alba for the whole day,” he says. “Alba is smaller and lightweight so you need to make more quills to make up a kilo – that earns me only 4,300 rupees [$21.50].”

When Piyathilake removes the inner bark, it curls up within a few minutes under the shade. These barks are then stuffed with small cuttings of the bark called quillings to make one 42-inch (1 metre) quill. Quills are placed on ropes under the roof for drying. After three days, peelers pack them into bales and send them off to the factory.

For Piyathilake and his family, cinnamon is their bread and butter, but it is also much more than that. “It’s a craft you have to master for years. I started peeling cinnamon when I was 12. It took me several years to strip off thin layers of the inner bark without damaging it,” he says.

Skills shortage

For producers like Runage, however, it is not always easy to find skilled labour. At the Carlton estate, Piyathilake is one of their last experienced peelers. Runage feels that finding generational peelers is one of the biggest challenges in the business today.

“Peeling cinnamon requires hard labour, so the younger generations don’t want to do it any more. They prefer office jobs. It doesn’t necessarily mean that these office jobs will pay you more than peeling cinnamon, but an office job has a better social image today,” says Runage. “People consider peeling cinnamon as a low-level job, so it’s difficult for us to find experienced peelers now.”

Back at the estate’s main building, grey-haired Heenipellage Chandra sits on a floor mat, her eyes focused on the cinnamon bark she peels. For 10 years, the 62-year-old has walked to the estate daily to peel at least 3kg of cinnamon. Chandra recalls Runage’s father visiting her house in the late 1980s. “He came to meet my father-in-law and buy cinnamon from him.”

Chandra has been peeling cinnamon at home since she was married. “Somewhere in the late 1970s,” she says, trying to recall her wedding day, “Husband’s father and his father, all of them peeled cinnamon.”

But Chandra’s children do not peel cinnamon any more. Both her 20-something sons do office jobs, says Chandra as her eyes twinkle with a smile. She is proud of her sons. They have climbed the social ladder.

When the coronavirus pandemic began, most resident cinnamon peelers left for their homes during the months-long lockdowns. Runage had to shuffle his staff around to find labour; women from the factory were relocated to the estate to peel cinnamon.

– AL JAZEERA

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Life style

River of Life in Peril: Shantha Jayaweera’s Four-Decade Vigil in Boralugoda

Published

2 days ago

2026/03/22

Thilina Walpola

Shantha Jayaweera

In the quiet, rain-washed village of Boralugoda, where narrow streams slip silently through thick green undergrowth and the air carries the scent of wet earth, a remarkable story of science, persistence, and quiet resistance has been unfolding for decades.

At its centre is Research Scientist and artist Shantha Jayaweera—a man who has spent nearly 40 years studying, documenting, and defending one of the richest freshwater ecosystems in the island. His life’s work is not just about fish, but about a fragile world that exists beneath the surface of flowing water—often unseen, frequently misunderstood, and increasingly under threat.

“Sri Lanka holds a very special place in global freshwater biodiversity,” Jayaweera says, reflecting on decades of fieldwork. “But even within the island, there are pockets that are extraordinarily rich. Boralugoda is one of them.”

A Global Context, A Local Wonder

Sri Lanka is part of the Oriental region—one of the most biologically diverse freshwater zones in the world. Within the island, the lowland wet zone stands out as the most species-rich area, nurtured by year-round rainfall and dense vegetation.

But Boralugoda, located within this wet zone, is exceptional even by those standards.

“Out of about 94 true freshwater fish species recorded in the country, around 84 are found in the lowland wet zone,” Jayaweera explains. “What is remarkable is that Boralugoda alone supports 53 species. That is the highest number recorded in any inland location.”

He pauses before adding a sobering detail.

“Of those 53 species, 26 are endemic. And 23 are threatened—ranging from vulnerable to critically endangered. That’s a very serious signal.”

: Boralugoda Ella

The Secret of the Maguru

Flowing through this biodiversity hotspot is the Maguru River—a relatively small river with an outsized ecological role. Originating in the rainforest-covered Morapitiya area, it carries with it the ecological signature of its pristine beginnings.

“What makes the Maguru unique is its clarity,” Jayaweera says. “Most rivers turn brown as they carry sediment downstream. But this river remains clear, which allows sunlight to penetrate and sustain aquatic life.”

The river’s structure adds another layer of ecological complexity.

“It starts with fast-flowing, rocky sections and then gradually shifts to sandy, slow-moving areas,” he explains. “Different species are adapted to each of these habitats. Some are highly specialised and cannot survive outside the rocky zones.”

This diversity of microhabitats is one of the key reasons for the area’s richness.

Banded mountain loach

Red neck goby – endangerd now extinct from the area due to sand mining

“Fish like certain gobies and barbs are restricted to fast-flowing rocky areas,” he notes. “If those habitats are disturbed, the species simply disappear.”

Streams That Sustain Life

Beyond the main river, Boralugoda is crisscrossed by an intricate network of streams—fed by rainfall, forest cover, and underground springs.

“This area has one of the highest stream densities in the Western Province,” Jayaweera says. “These streams act as nurseries, refuges, and migration pathways for many species.”

The surrounding landscape further enhances this ecological mosaic.

“You have a mix of rainforest patches, home gardens, tea estates, and cultivated lands,” he explains. “Each of these contributes in some way to the overall habitat diversity.”

However, this delicate balance is increasingly being pushed to its limits.

Sand Mining: A River Reshaped

One of the most destructive forces to hit the Maguru River has been large-scale sand mining, particularly since the early 2000s.

“The riverbed has been completely altered,” Jayaweera says, his tone turning grave. “We’ve lost aquatic plants, native riverbank trees, and entire habitats.”

The ecological consequences have been severe.

“The endangered Red Neck Goby has become locally extinct,” he reveals. “And the Ocellated Pipefish has not been recorded for years, largely due to the loss of specific aquatic plants it depends on.”

The physical damage to the river is equally alarming.

“Sand mining has deepened the river unnaturally,” he explains. “This leads to bank erosion, collapse, and long-term instability. It changes the entire character of the river.”

Although recent policy changes have halted new permits, the damage done over decades cannot be easily reversed.

: Marbled spiny eel

: Red tailed goby – endangered

Tea Expansion and Vanishing Buffers

Another major pressure comes from agricultural expansion—particularly the spread of lowland tea cultivation.

“Since the 1990s, we’ve seen a steady conversion of home gardens and even forest patches into tea plantations,” Jayaweera says. “In some cases, even rubber lands have been cleared.”

This transformation has not only reduced biodiversity on land but has also affected water systems.

“Riverbank vegetation is often cleared to make way for cultivation,” he explains. “But these trees are critical—they stabilise banks, filter runoff, and provide shade.”

What is particularly troubling is the disregard for existing environmental regulations.

“There are clear laws requiring buffer zones along rivers and streams,” he says. “But many local authorities are either unaware or do not enforce them. As a result, these protective areas are disappearing.”

A Life Dedicated to Observation and Action

For Jayaweera, these changes are not abstract trends—they are deeply personal.

“I’ve been observing this ecosystem for nearly four decades,” he says. “I’ve seen species decline, habitats shrink, and patterns change.”

But his work has never been limited to observation alone.

Through the Organisation for Aquatic Resources Management (OARM), he has led numerous conservation and restoration efforts.

“We’ve worked on replanting rainforest species in degraded areas, restoring stream banks, and raising awareness among local communities,” he explains. “In some places, we’ve seen encouraging signs of recovery.”

His approach combines science with grassroots engagement.

“Conservation cannot happen in isolation,” he says. “You need the community to be involved.”

Where Science Meets Art

What sets Jayaweera apart is his ability to translate science into art.

As an accomplished artist, he uses illustrations and visual storytelling to bring freshwater ecosystems to life.

“Art can reach people in ways that science sometimes cannot,” he says. “It creates an emotional connection.”

His paintings often depict the intricate beauty of fish species, aquatic plants, and flowing streams—capturing not just their form, but their essence.

“When people see what is at stake, they are more likely to care,” he adds.

A Community at a Crossroads

Despite decades of work, challenges remain at the community level.

“Some people still treat rivers as dumping grounds,” Jayaweera says with frustration. “Plastic and waste continue to find their way into these waters.”

Yet, there are also signs of hope.

“A group of committed individuals regularly organise clean-up campaigns,” he notes. “They collect waste and display it publicly to raise awareness. It’s a simple but powerful act.”

These grassroots efforts, he believes, are crucial.

“Real change begins at the local level,” he says.

A Fragile Future

For Jayaweera, Boralugoda is more than just a field site—it is a symbol of what is at stake.

“If we lose ecosystems like this, we lose something irreplaceable,” he warns. “These species are found nowhere else in the world.”

His message is both urgent and measured.

“We need stronger enforcement of environmental laws, better awareness, and a genuine commitment to conservation,” he says.

“Otherwise, the damage will become irreversible.”

As the clear waters of the Maguru River continue to flow through Boralugoda—past rocks, roots, and remnants of a once-pristine landscape—they carry with them a quiet story of resilience.

And alongside that flow stands Shantha Jayaweera—scientist, artist, and guardian of a hidden world—still watching, still working, and still hoping that it is not too late.

By Ifham Nizam

Pictures by Shantha Jayaweera

Life style

Cheers to one year! Cinnamon Myst still casting its spell

Published

2 days ago

2026/03/22

Thilina Walpola

Perched in the heart of Sri Lanka’s hill capital, Kandy Myst by Cinnamon recently marked its first anniversary, celebrating a year of redefining modern hospitality in the historic City of Kandy. Since opening its doors on February 12, 2025, the hotel has quickly established itself as a vibrant lifestyle destination that blend contemporary comfort with the cultural charm of the region.

This property was designed to bring a fresh energy to the city’s hospitality scene with 215 modern rooms, the largest room inventory in Kandy. The hotel caters to both leisure and business travellers seeking comfort, convenience and stylish surrounding close to the city’s key attraction.

Within the first year, the hotel has achieved notable milestones, including become the first hotel in Kandy to receive Leed Gold Certificate reflecting its commitment to sustainable and responsible development. Beyond accommodation and dining, the property has also emerged as a hub for cultural events.

As Kandy Myst by Cinnamon enters its second year, the hotel continues to position itself as more than a place to stay. With its lively dining venues, social spaces and commitment to sustainability and community engagement, it is steadily shaping a new chapter in Kandy’s evolving hospitality landscape – one where tradition meets contemporary style.

Over the months the restaurant has hosted themed culinary events, special promotions and vibrant social evenings, further strengthening its place as a lively hub in Kandy’s hospitality scene. Guests have been drawn not only by the flavours on the plate but also by the inviting atmosphere that captures the essence of city’s elegance.

General Manager – Dhinal Perera

Kandy Myst by Cinnamon celebrates its first anniversary, marking a year as Kandy’s contemporary hospitality destination that brings energy, culture, and lifestyle experiences to the city. Opened through a partnership between Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts and Indra Traders (Pvt) Ltd, the hotel blends hospitality expertise with local insight to deliver a modern, energetic and lifestyle driven offering.

With the highest room inventory in Kandy, comprising 215 contemporary rooms, Kandy Myst by Cinnamon caters to both leisure and business travellers, offering modern comfort in close proximity to the city’s key attractions and transport routes. Its dynamic dining and social spaces; Grains Dining, Terra Lounge, and the rooftop Kosmos Sky Bar with heated infinity pool, invite guests and locals to engage, with panoramic city views, curated entertainment, and vibrant social experiences. Grains Dining, the buffet restaurant, serves an extensive selection of local and international cuisine, while Terra Lounge provides a welcoming café-style hub for casual meetups and social gatherings.

In its inaugural year, the hotel achieved significant milestones, becoming the first hotel in Kandy to receive LEED Gold certification, demonstrating a commitment to responsible, future-ready development. Reinforcing its culturally connected and globally relevant positioning, Kandy Myst by Cinnamon hosted globally celebrated icons such as Alpha Blondy and a series of high-profile local and international events, including the official trophy unveiling of the inaugural New Zealand U85kg Rugby Tour of Sri Lanka in May 2025.

Throughout the year, the hotel brought guests and the community together through seasonal activations, curated experiences, and loyalty-driven offers, contributing to strong engagement while supporting Kandy’s tourism economy through local partnerships and community initiatives.

As it enters its second year, Kandy Myst by Cinnamon continues to invite international and local guests alike to experience its vibrant dining, social, and lifestyle spaces, while reinforcing its role in shaping Kandy’s modern hospitality and cultural landscape. (Zanita )

Life style

Montblanc launches Explorer Extreme in Sri Lanka

Published

2 days ago

2026/03/22

Thilina Walpola

From L - R - Ravin Hiru Surtani, President, Head of Fragrances - Exclusive Lines; Deshan Dias Bandaranayake, President, Head of Operations - Exclusive Lines; Hiru Surtani, Managing Director - Exclusive Lines & Apsara Hiru Surtani, President, Head of Beauty - Exclusive Lines

Internationally renowned luxury Maison Montblanc has introduced its latest fragrance, Montblanc Explorer Extreme, to the Sri Lankan market through Exclusive Lines, the sole authorised agent for the brand in the country.

The launch event was hosted at Virticle by Jetwing, where guests were invited to experience the newest addition to the bestselling Explorer line in a setting that reflected the Maison’s enduring themes of adventure, refinement and craftsmanship.

Montblanc Explorer Extreme represents a significant evolution of the Explorer franchise and is the first Parfum concentration within the collection. Conceived as an ode to vast landscapes and the world’s most remote desert terrains, the fragrance delivers a deeper, more intense interpretation of the original Explorer Eau de Parfum. Its woody, ambery and leathery composition is crafted to embody courage, ambition and the drive to push beyond limits.

Hiru Surtani, Managing Director and CEO of Exclusive Lines, said the launch reinforces the company’s commitment to bringing globally celebrated luxury brands to Sri Lanka. “Montblanc Explorer Extreme Parfum stands for courage, ambition and the determination to surpass boundaries, values that strongly resonate with us at Exclusive Lines. We are proud to present this remarkable fragrance to Sri Lanka’s discerning consumers, offering a scent that captures the essence of adventurous living,” he stated.

: Treshan and Senuri

: Thiyasha

: Roshan Ranawana

Inspired by dramatic desert landscapes such as Saudi Arabia’s AlUla, the fragrance reflects the bold spirit of modern exploration. It opens with fresh green notes of bergamot blended with clary sage, creating an immediate sense of vitality. The heart reveals patchouli layered with Ambrofix™, delivering warmth and depth, while the base combines rich amber, leather accords and refined vetiver to leave a powerful and lasting impression.

The bottle design draws inspiration from the Montblanc Extreme 3.0 Collection, echoing its distinctive textured motif associated with modern travel and dynamism. Crafted from fully black lacquered glass and topped with a polished black cap, the design underscores the intensity of the parfum. Production and assembly take place at Montblanc’s dedicated Pelleteria workshop in Florence, Italy, with elements crafted across Germany and France, a testament to the Maison’s European craftsmanship.

The global campaign features American actor, model and musician Justice Joslin as the contemporary Explorer, set against striking desert landscapes that symbolise ambition and achievement.

Montblanc Explorer Extreme joins Montblanc Explorer and Montblanc Explorer Platinum in the line-up and is now available exclusively in Sri Lanka through Exclusive Lines outlets and authorised retail partners nationwide.