News

Standard certification for SL spices

Published

6 months ago

November 16, 2023

editor

The National Spices Corporation has taken steps to sign a tripartite agreement together with SGS Institute of Singapore, which has international recognition.

Accordingly, from next December, it is mandatory for all the small and medium-sized spice producers in Sri Lanka to obtain this standard certificate, said Mrs. Kumudini Arya Gunasena, the Chairman of the National Spices Corporation.

National Spices Corporation, Hatton National Bank and SGS Institute are going to sign this tripartite agreement together

A discussion on spice standards certification programme was held yesterday (15) afternoon at the Ministry of Plantation Industry. The Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries Mahinda Amaraweera, Secretary of the Ministry Janaka Dharmakeerthi, and a group of officials from the Ministry of Plantation Industries also participated in the event.

Spices such as pepper, cardamom, cloves and cinnamon are the main plantation spices in this country and are used by people in many countries of the world. But the minister said that Sri Lanka Spice brand has been seriously damaged due to the export of substandard spices by some fake traders.

Therefore, this spice certification scheme will be implemented after the signing of the relevant tripartite agreement in the second week of December, and after that the certificate can be obtained by the producers at a concessional price.

Also, since this certificate is an internationally recognized certificate, small and medium scale spice manufacturers in Sri Lanka will be able to export their products to the international market without any hindrance.

(Excerpts : Dailynews.lk)

News

Rathupaswala shooting: Army personnel acquitted

Published

3 hours ago

May 17, 2024

editor

All four Sri Lanka Army personnel who had been indicted on charges of shooting dead three persons and injuring 45 others during a protest by villagers demanding clean drinking water in Rathupaswala in 2013 were today acquitted by the Gampaha High Court Trial-at-Bar.

Delivering its verdict, the three-judge High Court ordered the acquittal and release of all four accused – a Major and three Army soldiers.

The incident occurred on August 1, 2013, when army personnel opened fire on a protest by villagers in Weliweriya. The villagers were protesting against a factory which they said was contaminating groundwater in their area and were demanding clean drinking water.

(sundaytimes.lk)

News

Fmr. Army Chief joins SJB

Published

6 hours ago

May 17, 2024

nipuni

Former Army Commander Retired General Mahesh Senanayake has joined with the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB).

In a Facebook post, party leader Sajith Premadasa said that the Former Army Chief joined the SJB to support the program to rebuild Sri Lanka.

Mr. Premadasa had appointed General Mahesh Senanayake as the Chief of the Samagi Ranaviru Balawegaya.

News

Colombo HC sentences 9 Pakistani drug traffickers to 10 years in prison

Published

7 hours ago

May 17, 2024

nipuni

Nine Pakistani nationals, who were arrested on charges of smuggling a large cache of drugs, have been sentenced to 10 years in prison by the Colombo High Court.

During a joint operation carried out by the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) and the Sri Lanka Navy on January 01, 2020, the Pakistani nationals were apprehended while transporting 614 kg of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine) and 581 kg and 34 grams of suspected drugs by boat.

The report of the Government Analyst has confirmed that the seized parcels contained over 491 kilograms of ‘Ketamine’ drugs and nearly 472 kilograms of ‘Ice’ (Crystal Methamphetamine).

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges when the case was taken up before the court, and were subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison, police said.

Furthermore, the police mentioned that measures are underway to extradite the suspects to Pakistan in order to serve their sentences.

(adaderana.lk)

(This story, originally published by adaderana.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)