Rs. 30m Eco Tech project to grow herbal plants for export

Eco Tech Create 21 Company (Pvt) Ltd, a BOI project has invested Rs 30 million to grow herbal plants, including Kotalahimbutu for the export market.

The agreement was signed between the BOI Chairman Lakshman R. Watawala and Sri Lanka Department Manager Eco Tech Create 21 Nilmini Kobayashi recently.

The factory and plantation will be set up in Sangattikulama Anamaduwa in the Puttalam District on a 50-acre plot employing over 70 people.

This project has been approved under the Nipayum Sri Lanka 300 Enterprises Program and is classified under the 'Most Difficult' category.

Planting will commence early July and Eco Tech expects a harvest (raw leaves) of 15mt per month.

The leaf processing will be done in a semi automated process to create job opportunities and the company will be purchasing locally manufactured machinery for this project.

Kotalahimbutu (salacia reticulata) is a medicinal plant, and is used to treat Diabetics and Rheumatism.

As the medicinal properties of the leaves should be retained at all stages of the processes, all processes applied in the growing and harvesting of the leaves is done using organic farming methods. This factory is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka and the majority of the products will be exported to Japan.

The company is also looking at expanding the scope of their business and entering into a joint venture to produce herbal beauty care products.