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UNESCO Recognition Highlights Kitul Craft — But Sinharaja’s Traditional Producers Struggle to Survive

Published

8 months ago

2026/02/1

For generations, rural communities across several provinces of Sri Lanka have quietly sustained one of the island’s most distinctive traditional industries: the tapping of the kitul palm (Caryota urens). In December last year, that centuries-old knowledge received global recognition when UNESCO inscribed Sri Lanka’s traditional kitul sap extraction technique—commonly known as tapping or cutting—on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

The announcement was made on December 11, 2025, at the 20th session of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, held in New Delhi. For practitioners of the craft, particularly those living on the fringes of the Sinharaja World Heritage Forest, the recognition was a moment of pride. Yet, on the ground, many say the future of the industry remains uncertain.

In villages scattered across the country, kitul production continues to be either a primary livelihood or an important supplementary income. It is not a trade that can be learnt overnight. Kitul tapping is an inherited skill, passed down through generations, demanding experience, physical endurance and a steady nerve. Among Sinharaja-adjacent communities, the craft is also steeped in spiritual belief. The first jaggery produced from a freshly tapped kitul flower is traditionally offered to God Saman, the guardian deity believed to protect the forest and its people.

Renowned for its deep, earthy sweetness, kitul jaggery and treacle mask the dangers behind their production. Falls from towering palms have resulted in serious injuries and even fatalities over the years. Yet, life in these villages remains marked by an unassuming generosity. Visitors are welcomed with a cup of strong tea and homemade kitul jaggery, while those partial to kitul toddy are readily offered a glass, sometimes accompanied by a pinch of salt. Guests rarely leave empty-handed; a bottle of treacle or a block of jaggery is gifted with quiet pride.

The process itself is slow and exacting. Once a kitul flower is cut, the sap does not gush forth but drips, drop by drop, into a container suspended below. This sap, known locally as telijja, is later heated and reduced to produce treacle and jaggery.

In Pitakale village, near the Sinharaja Forest Reserve, families engaged in the traditional industry spoke candidly of the pressures they face. Foremost among them is the proliferation of sugar-based jaggery and treacle, falsely marketed as kitul products. Sold cheaply—often online and sometimes under the Sinharaja name—these imitations, producers say, have severely undermined demand for genuine kithul products.

Wildlife interference, particularly from monkeys and giant squirrels, has added to their difficulties, while the lack of basic equipment has discouraged younger generations from entering the trade. Many producers also lament that despite repeated assurances by successive governments to develop kithul villages and support the industry, tangible assistance has been limited.

“In the past, almost every family here was involved in kithul production,” said W. Wijewira (51), a traditional producer from the Sinharaja area. “Today, it is deeply disappointing to see people who have nothing to do with kithul tapping use the Sinharaja name to sell sugar-based jaggery and treacle. Because those products are cheaper, our genuine kithul jaggery remains unsold. Consumers assume it is the same. If proper equipment and a clear government programme are introduced, we can supply high-quality kithul products to the market.”

Echoing the concern, P. L. Pradeepa (51) said her family’s generational livelihood was now under threat. “My husband taps the trees and I prepare the jaggery and treacle. But sugar-based products have flooded the market. We cannot afford proper tools and rely on old, damaged equipment. Without support, the younger generation is moving away from this work. Once the elders are gone, the kithul industry here will vanish.”

S. Karunaratne (63) pointed to the absence of a structured development plan. “Sugar-based jaggery has collapsed the market. If this industry is properly developed, it can earn foreign exchange for the country. What we need are basic tools—vessels to boil the sap and proper containers. Government intervention is essential.”

For Aruna Shantha (56), the issue is both economic and cultural. “We supply pure kithul products for almsgivings, weddings and religious ceremonies. But fake products labelled as Sinharaja kithul are sold at low prices, reducing demand for ours. Wildlife damage is another serious problem. A dedicated market for genuine producers would benefit both consumers and us.”

Responding to these concerns, M. U. Gayani, Chairperson of the Kithul Development Board, acknowledged gaps in market access. She said that while producers make high-quality treacle, poor packaging limits their reach, allowing middlemen to dominate. “The solution lies in collective production centres with proper equipment and standardised packaging. This would enable producers to access better markets directly. Measures to reduce wildlife damage have also been introduced, alongside awareness programmes,” she said.

Despite UNESCO recognition, traditional kithul producers in the Sinharaja region say they continue to battle a host of challenges. Without urgent state intervention, structured development initiatives and dedicated markets for authentic products, they warn that this newly celebrated heritage may quietly fade away—leaving behind little more than a name on an international list.

Text and Pix by Upendra Priyankara Jathungama

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Removing monk’s robes matter for Sangha to decide: Mahanayake Theras

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

Ven. Gnanasara

The Mahanayaka Theras of all Nikayas have protested against Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) General Secretary Ven. Galagodaaththe Gnanasara Thera, who is serving a prison sentence for contempt of court, being produced before court in civilian attire.

In a letter to the Commissioner General of Prisons, the Mahanayaka Theras have said they were surprised and concerned by the decision to remove the monk’s robes.

The letter has been signed by Most Ven. Thibbotuwawe Sri Siddhartha Sumangala Thera of the Malwatu Chapter, Most Ven. Warakagoda Sri Gnanarathana Thera of the Asgiri Chapter, Most Ven. Karagoda-Uyangoda Maithri Murthi Thera of the Amarapura Maha Nikaya and Most Ven. Makulawe Sri Wimala Thera of the Ramanna Maha Nikaya.

The Mahanayaka Theras have said they respect the Constitution and the judicial process, but maintained that removing a monk’s robes or ending his status as a member of the Buddhist Order is a matter that should be decided by the Maha Sangha.

They have said the relevant Sangha Council has not determined that Ven. Gnanasara Thera committed a Parajika offence or any other offence warranting his removal from the Buddhist Order.

The Mahanayaka Theras have also referred to Regulation 550 of the Prison Standing Orders, which they say stipulates that convicted prisoners should not be taken to court in prison uniform and should be allowed to wear the type of clothing they normally wore before their conviction. In the case of a Buddhist monk, they have said, this means his monastic robes.

They also referred to the United Nations Standard Minimum Rules for the Treatment of Prisoners, which provide for prisoners taken outside prison to be allowed to wear their own clothing or other unobtrusive clothing.

The Mahanayaka Theras have requested the Commissioner General of Prisons to allow Ven. Gnanasara Thera to wear his robes when appearing in court and to maintain his status as a monk while he remains in prison.

Prisons authorities have said that the clothing decision was made under prison regulations, and the Prisons Department has stated that prisoners serving sentences of more than three years are required to wear prison-issued clothing when produced before court.

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NDB fraud Rs 60mn more than reported

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

The Committee on Public Finance has said that the actual losses suffered by the NDB bank are much more than what was initially reported. When compared with the initial disclosure made by NDB on 6 April 2026, the reported amount of the fraud had increased by Rs. 0.4 billion, from Rs. 13.2 billion to Rs. 13.6 billion, the committee said.

When compared with the amount disclosed by NDB on 26 June 2026, based on the interim report dated 22 June 2026, the additional amount of fraud is Rs. 60 million.

The has committee issued the following statement: The Committee on Public Finance recently summoned officials of the Central Bank of Sri Lanka to Parliament to inquire into the financial irregularities identified at NDB Bank and the final audit report relating to the matter.

The Committee meeting, chaired by Member of Parliament Dr. Harsha de Silva, discussed irregularities identified in NDB Bank’s financial statements, shortcomings in the audit process, and the relevant audit reports.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers Chathuranga Abeysinghe, Dr. Kaushalya Ariyaratne, and Nishantha Jayaweera, as well as Members of Parliament Attorney-at-Law Rauff Hakeem, Ravi Karunanayake, Ajith Agalakada, Nimal Palihena, Wijesiri Basnayake, M.K.M. Aslam, Champika Hettiarachchi, and Attorney-at-Law Lakmali Hemachandra.

The Committee also focused on the findings of the investigation conducted by the Sri Lanka Accounting and Auditing Standards Monitoring Board (SLAAMB), as well as the findings revealed through the investigation conducted by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India LLP. In particular, the Committee inquired into the failure of the external auditors to identify irregularities in NDB Bank’s financial statements.

The accountability of senior management with regard to corporate governance and risk management in relation to the financial irregularities was also discussed.

As a significant proportion of NDB Bank’s shares are held by institutions representing public and state funds, the Committee also considered the potential impact of such financial irregularities on public funds and the general public.

The Committee also discussed the progress made by LankaPay in establishing a centralized fraud monitoring system to prevent fraud within the financial system. The need to strengthen fraud monitoring systems at the individual bank level to monitor transactions carried out within each bank was also emphasized.

Accordingly, the following observations are included in the final audit report concerning the financial irregularities at NDB Bank:

1. The audit covers the period from 1 April 2016 to 31 March 2026. The audit report specifically identifies the financial impact arising from fraudulent transactions amounting to Rs. 13,639,664,684 (Rs. 13.6 billion).

2. According to the disclosure made on 29 September 2026, the financial impact arising from the fraudulent transactions is as follows:

· Rs. 1.5 billion for the period prior to 1 January 2025;

· Rs. 9.6 billion during 2025; and

· Rs. 2.5 billion for the quarter ended 31 March 2026.

3. Compared with the initial disclosure made by NDB on 6 April 2026, the reported amount of the fraud has increased by Rs. 0.4 billion, from Rs. 13.2 billion to Rs. 13.6 billion. Compared with the amount disclosed by NDB on 26 June 2026, based on the interim report dated 22 June 2026, the additional amount of fraud is Rs. 60 million.

4. The final audit report has also confirmed the previous disclosures that no customer accounts were affected as a result of the fraud incident.

5. The report has identified several governance failures at NDB relating to the processing of CEFT transactions, user-level activities within the Core Banking System, and the management of user credentials and access information. In addition, shortcomings have been identified in several operational areas, including transaction monitoring, daily account reconciliation, financial compliance, internal audit, branch network management, and operational risk management.

The audit report has made comprehensive recommendations to strengthen the control mechanisms, governance structures, and processes relating to the above-mentioned activities of the bank.

News

President orders review of laws on treatment of imprisoned monks

Published

8 hours ago

2026/10/9

Thilina Walpola

President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has ordered the formation of a committee to review the laws and regulations on how Buddhist monks serving prison sentences are treated, including the procedures that apply when they are taken out of prison.

He revealed this at a special meeting with Maha Sangha representatives held yesterday (8) at the Presidential Secretariat. The meeting was called after concerns were raised over how Ven. Galagoda Aththe Gnanasara Thera was treated when he was taken from prison to court.

The committee will recommend amendments to existing laws and, where needed, new prison standing orders and regulations. Its members will be drawn from the Attorney General’s Department, the Ministries of Justice, Public Administration, and Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs, and the Department of Prisons, including the Commissioner General of Prisons. It has been given two weeks to review the current legal provisions and submit its recommendations. The President added that any changes specific to Buddhist monks would be made in consultation with the Maha Sangha.

Outlining the legal background, the President said prison administration was governed by the Prisons Ordinance of 1877, along with the regulations and standing orders issued under it. That framework mostly addressed prisoners in general, he said, and had few provisions dealing specifically with Buddhist monks.

The meeting was attended by senior Maha Sangha members representing the Siyam, Amarapura and Ramanna Nikayas, along with Minister of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs Hiniduma Sunil Senevi and Minister of Justice Harshana Nanayakkara.