Minister opens cinnamon processing centres

Application of Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) in the processes of food production is a demanded requirement needed to be fulfilled in international trade. Manufacturing of food products according to the Good Manufacturing Processes is a clear indication of the purity and the health friendliness of such product. Fulfilment of GMP followed production process is considered as an essential requirement.

As this is a highly prioritized necessity in Sri Lankan spice industry, The Spice Council proposed to upgrade the traditional cinnamon peeling huts to efficient processing centres which follows Good Manufacturing Practices.

Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB) has already consented to provide monetary assistance to upgrade the traditional cinnamon peeling huts to GMP cinnamon processing centres.

Several openings of upgraded cinnamon peeling centres in Galle District which were assisted under the GMP upgrading program were held recently. Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris participated as the Chief Guest of these openings.

EDB Chairman Anil Koswatte, EDB Director Dr. Chris Nonis, Spice Council Chairman D.A. Perera, Spice Council Immediate Past Chariamn Sarada de Silva and EDB Director General Sujatha Weerakoon were also present at these openings.

Five GMP processing centres were opened by the Minister in Telwatte, Karandeniya and Galduwa areas in the Galle District. The occasion was organized with the fullest assistance of the regional office of EDB in the Galle District. Grants were allocated to upgrade five existing cinnamon peeling centres, belonging to P.P.M. Guruge, Girly Lankage, N. M. Wickramasinghe, K. S. A. Dayananda and Viraj S. de Silva. Sri Lanka Export Development Board has funded 60 percent of total GMP upgrading cost and the remainder of the cost was afforded by the cinnamon producers themselves.

The Spice Council proposed to the Government to establish 15 GMP centres for cinnamon processing. Already 10 GMP centres for cinnamon peeling have been established and high quality cinnamon production is being carried out by those centres.

The GMP centre upgrading program is implemented as a part of the Government's "Mahinda Chinthanaya" program.