Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ President Ranil Wickremesinghe attended the 30th Annual General Meeting of the Lanka Confectionary Manufacturers Association (LCMA) held at the Cinnamon Grand Hotel and championed the expansion of Sri Lanka’s confectionery industry and cocoa cultivation. The President’s visionary message aimed to position the country as a key player in the global confectionery market. Encouraging local confectioners to expand their reach and venture into international markets, he drew parallels with the global success of Sri Lankan teas and cinnamon.
Also read: UBER EATS COMPLETES FIVE YEARS IN SRI LANKA!
President Wickremesinghe posed the question of when Sri Lanka could attain global recognition for its chocolates and urged confectioners to explore opportunities in the export market for chocolate products. He also emphasized the need to establish Sri Lankan chocolates as a world-class product, echoing the reputation earned by the country’s tea and cinnamon. Highlighting the rich history of the confectionery sector, the President praised its pioneers and expressed optimism about its potential for global recognition. Acknowledging the limitations for expansion within the country, he urged confectioners to explore international markets, citing the success of the Kandos factory in Malaysia in 1978.
Also read: PRESIDENT ENCOURAGES FOREIGN INVESTORS TO EMBARK ON SRI LANKA’S RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY
Addressing economic challenges, President Wickremesinghe stressed the importance of sustainable solutions and highlighted export-oriented approaches as key to overcoming financial hurdles. He supported increased exports, identifying chocolates as having significant potential for global recognition. Encouraging the confectionery industry to explore intercropping with cocoa, the President mentioned plans to partner with smallholders and engage in discussions with the governments of Ghana and Ivory Coast for access to cocoa. He outlined broader initiatives, including leasing state-owned plantations for the development of the food industry and modernizing agriculture.
President Wickremesinghe also promised government support for the initiatives, allocating Rs. 8 billion for research and development in the confectionery industry. He emphasized collaboration, innovation, and expansion into several sectors of the food industry, terming it a “low hanging fruit” for economic growth. Furthermore, Dr. Samitha Prerera, Chairman of the LCMA, awarded a special memento to the President. He also lauded President Wickremesinghe’s tireless efforts in the economic recovery of Sri Lanka. He noted that the President’s presence is a great source of courage and strength for the industry’s advancement and emphasized the organization’s alignment with the President’s endeavors.
Additionally, the President recognized the significant contributions of pioneering founders and manufacturers in the confectionery industry by presenting awards to esteemed individuals, including Mr. Hinni Appuhamy, Founder of Maliban Group; Mr. Arthur Von. Possner, Founder of Ceylon Cold Stores (Elephant House); Mr. Junius Motha, Founder of Motha; Deshamanya Mineka Wickremesinghe, Founder of Manchee; Mr. P.J.C Perera, Founder of Uswatte Group; Mr. Sinnasamy Muttiah, Founder of Luckyland; Mr. Upali Wijewardhena, Founder of Kandos; and Mr. Vidanage John Appuhami, Founder of Cherish. Furthermore, Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Industrial and Health, along with Mahinda Siriwardena, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance, Dr. R.H.S. Sanarathunga, Senior Advisor to the President on Economic Affairs, and other prominent officials from LCMA attended the event, making it a significant platform for discussions on the future growth of Sri Lanka’s confectionery industry.
