Watawala Plantations joins hands with Peradeniya University to support agri research in Sri Lanka

Watawala Plantations Director Vish Govindasamy and Watawala Plantations and Watawala Dairy Chief Executive Officer Binesh Pananwala donating the sap flow meter units to University of Peradeniya Vice-Chancellor Prof. Upul Dissanayake and Prof. S. P. Nissanka of Department of Crop Science, University of Peradeniya

• Donates a sap flow meter to Department of Crop Science worth Rs. 1.4 m

Fulfilling its duties as a responsible agribusiness company in the country, Watawala Plantations PLC recently donated a sap flow meter with six sensor units to the Department of Crop Science of University of Peradeniya. 

The contribution, which highlights WATA’s ongoing efforts to develop the local agriculture sector and further agriculture education among Sri Lankan students, was worth over Rs. 1.4 million. The unit donated is the only sap flow meter available within the local university system. 

The sap flow meter unit was handed over to University of Peradeniya Vice-Chancellor Prof. Upul Dissanayake and Prof. S. P. Nissanka of Department of Crop Science, the University of Peradeniya by Watawala Plantations Director Vish Govindasamy and Watawala Plantations and Watawala Dairy Chief Executive Officer Binesh Pananwala. The complete unit comprises of sap flow sensors, data logger, interface software, and an internal battery that can be charged with an external solar panel. 

The sap flow meter is a self-contained, stand-alone instrument for measuring sap flow or transpiration in plants. Utilising the Heat Ratio Method (HRM) principle, the sap flow meter can measure high, low and reverse flow rates in both small woody stems and roots and large crops including tea, rubber and oil palm. As the only instrument that can measure zero flow and reverse sap flow rates, the sap flow meter is the most powerful and flexible instrument for the direct measurement of plant water use. 

Following the donation, University of Peradeniya Crop Science Department Head Dr. Mujith Ariyarathne conducted a full demonstration of the sap flow meter unit in the presence of university officials, lecturers, students and the representatives of Watawala Plantations.    

University of Peradeniya Crop Science Department Head Dr. Mujith Ariyarathne conducting a  demonstration

The sap flow meter unit