As a significant step towards bridging the digital divide in Sri Lanka’s plantation communities, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed today (16th) by the Secretary to the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure, Mr. Prabhat Chandrakeerthi, and the High Commissioner of India, Mr. Santosh Jha, at the Indian High Commission in Colombo to establish 60 Smart Classrooms in plantation schools across the Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, and Badulla districts.
The project aims to enhance the quality of education in these districts, supported by a generous financial grant of LKR 508 million from the Government of India and an additional contribution of LKR 115 million from the Government of Sri Lanka.
The event was graced by the Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Mr. Prabath Chandrakeerthi, and the Indian High Commissioner, Mr. Santosh Jha, along with other distinguished guests. The signing of this MOU highlights the deep-rooted friendship and cooperation between India and Sri Lanka, as the two nations work together to empower future generations through education and technology.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Prabath Chandrakeerthi emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, "This endeavor marks a significant step towards improving the quality of education and bridging the digital divide in our plantation communities. It stands as a testament to the collaborative commitment of our nations to advance education and digital literacy."
Efforts to renovate classrooms into Smart Classrooms have already commenced in collaboration with the provincial Departments of Education in the Central and Uva Provinces. These preparations aim to integrate digital learning tools seamlessly into the curriculum, ensuring their effective utilization.
The Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure will also work closely with the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Digital Economy to ensure the project’s successful implementation. The expertise of these ministries will play a crucial role in creating a robust framework for integrating modern digital technologies into the education system.
Furthermore, the Ministry expressed its gratitude to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Department of External Resources for their support during the project’s initial stages.
"This project is not merely about signing an agreement; it is a commitment to the future of our children, to their dreams, and to the prosperity of our communities," Mr. Chandrakeerthi,Secretary concluded.

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.

The New Village Development Authority for the Plantation Areas organized a program to distribute deeds to 519 land recipients in the Nuwara Eliya District. The event took place last Wednesday (11) at the new auditorium of the Thondaman Vocational Training Center in Hatton. The occasion was graced by the Hon. Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Sundaralingam Pradeep, Nuwara Eliya District Member of Parliament Krishnan Kalaiselvi, Ministry Secretary Prabath Chandrakeerthi, and Assistant High Commission of India - Kandy Ms. Saranya, along with a number of ministry officials.

A special discussion on the RIVER project was held last Monday (9th) at the Ministry of Plantation Industries, chaired by Hon. Minister Samitha Vidyarathna, with the participation of the Ministry Secretary, French representatives, project teams, and officials from the Sri Lanka Rubber Development Department. The RIVER (Improvement of Value Chain & Embedded Smallholders Resilience) project aims to enhance the economic, social, and environmental efficiency of 6,000 small rubber plantation owners in Sri Lanka. Through this project, specialized technical training programs and digital solutions are provided to small rubber plantation owners in the Badulkumbura and Madagama areas, focusing on income diversification and strengthening safety systems within the rubber industry. This project has been developed with the support of the French Embassy, Michelin Group, and the Ministry of Plantation Industries in Sri Lanka, with financial aid from French economic funds. It is being primarily implemented by a French organization named Ksapa, with support from the Rubber Research Institute, Rubber Development Department, and public-private partnerships.