Ruberu heads SAPPTA

The Spices and Allied Products Producers' and Traders' Association (SAPPTA) hosted its Annual General Meeting recently at the Grand Orient Hotel Colombo and Viren Ruberu was elected President.

Addressing the guests at the event, the newly elected Chairman of SAPPTA, Ruberu said that he firmly believed that the Association has the capacity to make the change that is needed in the spice industry in this country.

He went on to say that the plantation industry has contributed immeasurably to the prosperity and the development of the country and the country's fortunes and prosperity has been closely related to the performance of the plantation industry.

"Spice industry should be strategically driven to the same status quo or even better, by aligning a visionary goal as a country, and aggressively work towards achieving it and to do that, a one-stop mechanism should be in place to assist, regulate, monitor, advise, promote, brand and market Sri Lankan spices," he said.

Minor Export Crops Promotion Minister Reginold Cooray was the chief guest.

The office-bearers elected for the year 2011/12 were First Vice Chairman K. Ramachanran from Jayes Trading Co. Ltd and Second Vice Chairman T.A.G de Mel of Balangoda Plantations PLC.