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The grand festival of offering the fresh cinnamon harvest of the local community to the Seenigama Devol Temple in Galle, Hikkaduwa, was held for the nineteenth time on Saturday, 21st December 2024, at the temple premises. This ceremony, which began as a way to offer the first harvest from cinnamon lands devastated by the 2004 Tsunami and to honor the lives and property lost in the disaster, has since become an annual tradition..
The festival was first initiated in December 2006 as a concept by Mr. Janaka Lindara, then Assistant Director of the Galle District at the Department of Export Agriculture, with the organizational support of his staff. This year, the event was organized by the Cinnamon Development Department, where Mr. Lindara now serves as Director General.
An additional objective of the festival is to raise awareness and promote Sri Lankan cinnamon among tourists visiting Hikkaduwa, a popular destination during this period.
This year’s event was held under the patronage of the Honorable Governor of the Southern Province, Mr. Bandula Harischandra, and the Deputy Minister of Vocational Education, Mr. Nalin Hewage. It was also attended by Mr. Arjuna Welaratne, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Southern Province; Ms. Nayana de Silva, Additional Secretary to the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure; Mr. A. Perera, Director General of the Sri Lanka Spice Council; Ms. A.P.P. Disna, Director General of Export Agriculture; and Mr. Janaka Lindara, Director General of the Cinnamon Development Department, along with other departmental staff. Representatives from the Association for Ceylon Cinnamon Protected Geographical Indication, Galle District Cinnamon Association and Nursery Owners Association in Galle district
Galle District Plant Nurserymen Association, and many others were also present.
The event was generously sponsored by A. Baur & Co. (Pvt.) Ltd.