Government declares first week of April as Kithul Promotion and Consumption Week
Monday, 31 March 2014 00:00
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Based on the Cabinet Memorandum submitted by Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Douglas Devananda, the Cabinet of Ministers on 20 March declared the first week of April (1 to 6 April) as ‘Kithul Promotion and Consumption Week’.
It is scheduled to hold awareness programs at the National, Provincial, District and Divisional level on the nutritional, medicinal and health values of the kithul products among tourists, exporters, school children, university students, general public including hotels and airlines to popularise and promote kithul products including kithul treacle and jaggery.
Secretary to the Ministry V. Sivagnanasothy confirmed that the export earnings from kithul treacle and jaggery has increased from Rs. 26 m in 2011 to Rs. 58 m in 2012 and Rs. 68 m in 2013 and the demand in the international market in Japan, Malaysia, UK and European countries is on increase.
"The Kithulaka Varuna Exhibition and Trade Fair is scheduled to be held from 4 to 6 April at Institute of Sinhala Culture (Sudharshi Premises) opposite BMICH."
The declaration of the kithul week informs clearly the Government’s commitment to promote kithul sector not only as a rural development strategy but also as a strategy for export promotion in line with the ‘Mahinda Chinthana – Vision for the Future’.
The Kithulaka Varuna Exhibition and Trade Fair is scheduled to be held from 4 to 6 April at Institute of Sinhala Culture (Sudharshi Premises) opposite BMICH in line with the Kithul Promotion and Consumption Week.
The declaration also sends a message to Police officers, Excise Department officials, Government officials and private sector to promote the kithul sector for exports as well as for livelihood development in the rural sector.
