Business

Dilmah owners establish 830 acres of cinnamon on Kahawatte estates

Published

12 months ago

2024/05/5

Drone photo of cinnamon plantation on Ekarella estate

Kahawatte Plantations PLC, a member of the Merrill J. Fernando group, has emerged as the country’s biggest cinnamon grower with 830 acres (336.05 ha.) of the spice, unique to this country, already established in several estates within its portfolio.

Ekerella, a Kahawatte plantation boasts the largest contiguous cinnamon plantation (90 ha.) in the country, Dilhan, C. Fernando, younger son of the late Merrill. J. Fernando said last week after Dilmah had launched a landmark ‘Renaissance of Finest Ceylon Cinnamon’ event at the Galle Face Hotel with President Ranil Wickremesinghe as chief guest.

“Our involvement with cinnamon began in 2001 with my father’s investment in Kahawatte Plantations. While expanding the area under cultivation and further investing in downstream value addition with Ceylon Spice Company, a state of the art low temperature steam sterilization facility with milling capability, the tragedy that led to the launch of Dilmah Finest Ceylon Cinnamon is the unrealized value of our precious spice,” Fernando said explaining his company’s entry into cinnamon growing, processing and exporting.

: Cinnamon peeling

“While expanding the area under cultivation and further investing in downstream value addition with Ceylon Spice Company, a state of the art low temperature steam sterilization facility with milling capability, the tragedy that led to the launch of Dilmah Finest Ceylon Cinnamon is the unrealized value of our precious spice.”

Several Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and other plantation owners have in recent years diversified into small blocks of cinnamon plantation but none on the scale of Kahawatte.

Merrill J. Fernando devoted his life to promoting the uniqueness of pure Ceylon Tea and establishing the global Dilmah brand which is now globally reputed. His company has now stepped into growing and adding value to another unique Ceylon product globally acknowledged as the best with its new thrust into cinnamon.

Cinnamon has largely been a smallholder product and its peeling one of the most labour intensive among crops grown in Sri Lanka. Kahawatte’s entry into this field has among others led to training of cinnamon peelers, substantially improving their working conditions and much more.

“Most Ceylon cinnamon is exported in bulk with minimum value addition, for milling, packing and effective value addition overseas by foreign brands. Like tea, there is no reason for that since the product is effectively ready to use when produced in Sri Lanka and the technology required for safe sterilization, milling, packing, branding and value addition also available locally,” Fernando said.

“However, the difference in terms of economic benefit for Sri Lanka and the onward social benefit for workers involved in the industry as well as the future of Ceylon cinnamon could be phenomenal if we realized that value.”

Fernando said that in addition to Ekarella where 90 ha. of contiguous cinnamon has been established, Kahawatte has cinnamon on Rilhena Estate (47.7 ha), Pelmadulla (39.53 ha), Poronuwa (11.85 ha), Opata (16.18 ha), Hunuwella (66.10 ha), Houpe (28.12 ha) and, Endana (14 ha).

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Business

Sri Lanka’s NKAR wins tourism growth with premium strategy, shuns price wars

Published

13 hours ago

2025/04/21

Thilina Walpola

First group arrival in Sri Lanka

In a significant move for Sri Lanka’s tourism sector, NKAR, a stalwart in the industry for over 45 years, has announced a partnership with Holiday Max, Australia’s largest tour operator. Based in Perth, Holiday Max has ventured into Sri Lanka for the first time, marking a promising expansion for both entities.

This collaboration aligns with NKAR’s strategic vision to enhance the country’s appeal to international travelers. Nilmin Nanayakkara, Chairman and Managing Director of NKAR says, “Our policy has always been to promote Sri Lanka to new markets by attracting new operators, rather than competing through price undercutting or making unrealistic promises.” This statement encapsulates NKAR’s commitment to fostering sustainable tourism growth by focusing on quality over cost.

By prioritsing service excellence and maintaining high health and safety standards, NKAR aims to elevate the overall travel experience for visitors. This approach not only positions Sri Lanka as a premium destination but also attracts reputable operators like Holiday Max, who are drawn to the island’s unique experiences and NKAR’s dedication to quality service.

The partnership represents a remarkable opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka’s diverse offerings to Australian travelers, potentially opening new avenues for tourism growth. As NKAR continues to innovate and adapt, this collaboration is set to bolster Sri Lanka’s standing as a sought-after travel destination, steering the industry away from aggressive price competition towards sustainable growth through authentic experiences.

By focusing on attracting new operators and markets, NKAR is paving the way for a revitalised tourism landscape in Sri Lanka, one that values quality, safety, and the unique charm of the island. NKAR is recognised as one of the top five destination management companies in Sri Lanka. The company recently won 3 major awards at Sri Lanka Tourism Awards.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

Business

LOLC Finance secures 5 Gold Awards at LankaPay Technovation

Published

13 hours ago

2025/04/21

Thilina Walpola

LOLC Finance secured five Gold Awards and one Merit Award at the LankaPay Technovation Awards 2025, including the prestigious Overall Excellence in Digital Payments Gold Award for the sixth consecutive year.

The company dominated both bank and NBFI categories, winning Best Digital Strategy Gold Award, proving its superiority over traditional banks in digital finance.

Awards won were as follows.

Gold Awards:

Best Digital Payment Strategy (Banks & NBFI)

Best Mobile Application for Retail Payments via JustPay (Banks & NBFI)

Excellence in Customer Convenience (NBFI)

Financial Inclusivity (NBFI)

Overall Excellence in Digital Payments (NBFI)

Merit Award: Most Popular Digital Payment Product (iPay)

CEO Krishan Thilakaratne emphasized digitalization as core to LOLC Finance’s operations, enabling seamless, 24/7 financial access through platforms like LOLC Real Time and iPay.

Chairman Conrad Dias highlighted the audited, performance-based recognition and iPay’s mission to solve real-world financial challenges with cutting-edge tech.

iPay & JustPay innovations were Recognized for leading digital payment adoption with 1M+ downloads, 1.8M monthly transactions, and 65% JustPay market share, featuring biometric security and AI fraud detection.

Financial Inclusivity was recognized for Bridging gaps via multi-lingual services, cashless processes, and rural outreach programs.

Customer Convenience was recognized for real-time solutions (SLIPS, CEFTS) eliminating branch visits for payments and transfers.

Business

The Tree House International awarded for evidence-based excellence

Published

13 hours ago

2025/04/21

Thilina Walpola

Dr. Anton James receives the award

Tree House International, located in Dehiwala, has been recognised as the Most Evidence-Based Special Needs School of the Year at BWIO Awards. The only international school in Sri Lanka dedicated exclusively to children with special needs, 75% of its students relocate from abroad for its high-quality, result-driven education.

Last semester, 100% of students transitioned to mainstream or vocational training.

The school is led by Dr. Anton James, a Chartered Behavioural Psychologist with over 20 years of global experience.

His evidence-based approach earned the highest honour from the British Psychological Society, and he was elected a Chartered Scientist. Co-directed by Chrystal Honsaker, an expert with 15 years of international special needs experience, the school also offers an accredited British curriculum alternative to GCSEs.