The first meeting of the Expert Panel of the National Initiative on Cinnamon Sector Improvement was held on 11 August 2025 at the NSF Auditorium. The meeting was chaired by Prof. Saman Seneweera, Chairman of the NSF, and coordinated by Mr Janaka Karunasena, Project Coordinator of the Cinnamon Sector Improvement Initiative. Eng. Mahesh Dissanayaka, Overall Coordinator of the Mega Projects, also participated in the session.
The Expert Panel meeting was attended by distinguished group of professionals, namely Prof. Achini De Silva (Expert Panel chair), Professor in Agribusiness Management, Sabaragamuwa University, Dr. D. M. J. B. Senanayake, SLIBTEC, Dr. M. T. Kumudini Gunasekare, Climate Smart Irrigated Agriculture Project (CSIAP), Prof. Mohamed Esham, Sabaragamuwa University, and Dr. Pathmasiri Ranasinghe, Industrial Technology Institute being the panel members.
The National Science Foundation (NSF) operates under the purview of the Ministry of Science and Technology, has launched seven national initiatives as Mega Projects aimed at addressing high-priority national concerns through a multidisciplinary and holistic approach. These initiatives are strategically designed to contribute either directly or indirectly to the national GDP and foster the socio-economic development of Sri Lanka. Among the flagship projects under the NSF’s Mega Projects, the National Initiative on Cinnamon Sector Improvement seeks to:
- Enhance cinnamon yield potential through the adoption of modern cultivation technologies.
- Introduce advanced methods for the separation of chemical compounds.
- Develop new cinnamon cultivars.
- Strengthen the cinnamon value chain to boost global competitiveness.
This collaborative effort marks a significant milestone in the journey toward revitalizing Sri Lanka’s cinnamon industry and positioning it as a globally competitive sector.