Second phase of Sooryasinha certification gets under way

By L. S. A. Wedaarachchi

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The second phase of the Sooryasinha certification program which aims to encourage consumers to buy Sri Lankan products commenced last month.

Chairman, Mawbima Lanka Foundation, Ariyaseela Wickramanayake said that applications for the Sooryasinha certification under the second phase of the Ganne Ape De project were called last month and the response was encouraging.

The closing date for applications which was scheduled for January 31 has been extended to February 15 following requests by Sri Lankan entrepreneurs.

According to the chairman, the manufacturing organisations which send their applications for Sooryasinha certificates will be visited by Accreditation Evaluation and Expert Committees after the applications are scrutinised.

The Director Mawbima Lanka Foundation and Managing Director DSI Group, Kulatunga Rajapaksa said that the Sooryasinha certificate awarded to brands has helped to increase sales.

This shows the patriotic mentality of Sri Lankans," he said.

The Sooryasinha certificates were awarded to 34 local brands comprising over 200 locally manufactured products under the first phase or the program.

The Mawbima Lanka Foundation implemented an advertising campaign to popularise the Sooryasinha certified local products.

Rajapaksa said the country's economic stability depends on the development of local products and the improvement of exports.