Cabinet approves establishment of Zero-Waste Cinnamon Processing Centre in University of Ruhuna

Wednesday, 15 July 2026 00:03 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved the establishment of a Centralised Zero-Waste Biomass Cinnamon Processing Centre at the Mapalana Faculty of Agriculture of the University of Ruhuna to support the industry, particularly small-scale cultivators in the Matara and Galle districts.

The initiative, to be implemented jointly by the Science and Technology Ministry, the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), and the University of Ruhuna, aims to address longstanding challenges faced by cinnamon producers, including high processing costs, compliance with sanitary standards, and the underutilisation of biomass waste.

“The project will be carried out in four phases over a period of 27 months and is expected to promote more sustainable and efficient cinnamon processing through the adoption of zero-waste biomass technologies,” Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said at the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday.

The proposal to this effect was submitted by of Science and Technology Minister Prof. Chrishantha Abeysena.