Spice exports record growth

Sri Lanka's minor export crop production has revived after a decline in 2012 with the production of cinnamon, pepper, cloves, cocoa recording a growth last year.

Spices became the biggest item in Sri Lanka's overall, six-item basket of 'export crops' claiming 45% of the US $315 million export crops basket of 2013.

This was revealed at the 11th Annual General Meeting of the Spice Council in Colombo recently. The retirement of the founder chairman of the Council Sarada de Silva was recorded at the meeting.

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen said, "As result of the committed services of Sri Lanka's global spice champ Sarada de Silva, who is retiring after a successful career spanning almost four decades, Pure Ceylon Cinnamon is a global brand today. We wish you great retirement filled with happiness."

The founder Chairman of the Spice Council of Sri Lanka, Sarada de Silva joined the family business of B. Darsin de Silva and Sons in 1974, a four-generation long cinnamon business.

He has unrivalled experience in the industry, covering cultivation, plantation management, production, value addition and international marketing and has travelled extensively in the main global Ceylon Cinnamon markets - the North, Central, South American countries and Europe. De Silva, known as 'Sarada' to his friends and colleagues, was also instrumental in setting up the first Model Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacturing Practices, ISO standard and HACCP. Sarada is also a Member of the Management Committee of the National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), First Vice Chairman, National Chamber of Exporters (NCE), Chairman, Sri Lanka Cinnamon Association from 1999, Chairman, Competitiveness Initiative Spice Cluster and Life member of the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors.