News
NelFarms Wins Two Prestigious Awards at Sri Lanka Clean Energy Week 2025
Nel Farms, a pioneer in integrating renewable energy into Sri Lanka’s poultry sector, has won two top awards at the recently concluded 3rd Edition of Sri Lanka Clean Energy Week 2025.The company was honored with: Best Solar Project Deal of the Year in the Project Showcase category. Company of the Year: Excellence in Corporate Adaptation in the Sustainability Leadership category.
The event, organized by FirstVIEW and powered by SolarQuarter South Asia, brought together industry leaders, innovators, and policymakers to recognize outstanding contributions to the clean energy transition.
NelFarms added 6.9 megawatts of solar power to its already existing 1.5 megawatts recently taking its connected solar power load to over 8 megawatts. NelFarms, is one of the largest integrated poultry producers in Sri Lanka, now operates one of the largest privately held solar projects in Sri Lanka. By embedding solar power into its poultry operations, the company has significantly reduced its carbon footprint while setting a benchmark for sustainable practices in the agribusiness sector.
“These awards are a testament to our unwavering commitment to sustainability and our vision to lead by example,” said Mr. Noordeen Sethwala, Managing Director of NelFarms. “As a responsible corporate Organization, Noorani Estates Pvt Ltd is proud to contribute to Sri Lanka’s national clean energy targets while ensuring the long-term resilience of our poultry and agribusiness operations.”
“As the market leader in clean energy adoption within the poultry sector, Noorani Estates Pvt ltd continues to champion renewable energy as a pathway towards a greener, more sustainable future for Sri Lanka,” added Mr. Asitha Jayamaha, Chief Financial Officer of NelFarms
NelFarms, incorporated in 1942, is one of the largest poultry producers in Sri Lanka. They operate large-scale poultry farms in the north western and the central province of the country which produces “Nelfarms” eggs and day-old chicks.
In terms of the provisions of the Establishments Code on payment of festival advance to government officers, there’s a possibility of obtaining rupees 10,000/- as an advance for celebrating festivals of Theipongal, Ramazan, Sinhala and Hindu New Year, Wesak, Deepavali, and Christmas as well as for pilgrimages (Sri Paada pilgrimage and Hajj pilgrimage).
Provisions have been given to recover the said advance in 08 installments or if required earlier without interest. It has been proposed by the Budget 2026 to increase the said festival advance up to rupees 15,000/-.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers granted approval to the proposal submitted by the Minister of Public Administration, Provincial Councils and Local governments to revise the relevant provisions so that the festival advance can be increased up to rupees 15,000/- .
As per the approval given by the cabinet meeting held on 02-06-2025, action is being taken at present to offer the underutilized lands/properties of the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Etate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company which are under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure which have been identified under stage one to suitable investors.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure to provide following lands/properties on a lease basis to the suitable investors for optimal utilization following the prescribed procurement procedure.
• underutilized lands/properties identified under stage two owned by the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation, the Janatha Estate Development Board, and the Elkaduwa Plantation
Company,
• The Mawarala watte land and the Tea factory 40.48 hectares in extent, located in Matara District belonging to the Tea Shakthi Fund.
• The underutilized land of 1,541 hectares in extent of Kondachchi Estate is enjoyed by the Sri Lanka Cashew Corporation.
The drafting of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has commenced with the objective of equitable distribution of the benefits of the fisheries industry and the sustainable management of fisheries and aquaculture. This policy has been updated from time to time according to current requirements. However, steps have not been taken to obtain the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers for that purpose.
According to the policy declaration of the present government, ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendor’ the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy has been redrafted, updating the aforementioned policy in line with the economic and development objectives of the government.
The recommendations of the Department of National Planning have been received for the drafted policy.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers has approved the proposal presented by the Minister of Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Marine
Resources to implement the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, integrating it with other relevant policies.
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Providing underutilized lands/properties to suitable investors for optimal utilization.
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