The first spices-related official website in Sri Lanka www.spicelk.com was launched recently and the occasion was graced by Hon. (Dr.) Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation Industries. This website has been designed in order for the Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board under the Ministry of Plantation Industries to bring forward the qualitative products of small and medium-scale spices manufacturers to local and foreign markets.

Commenting on this, Hon. (Dr.) Ramesh Pathirana stated that “it is a pleasure to see the launching of this website as the first step to export the local small and medium scale manufacturers spices to the foreign markets within a short span of 1 ½ years after the opening of the Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board and that, it is also appreciated the measures taken as a Government Institute to provide opportunities for the small and medium scale manufacturers while earning profits at an occasion where certain government institutes are wound up due to losses at present.

The Minister further mentioned that there has been a larger market for spices in countries such as China and that, our entry into such markets would be important for local small and medium spices manufacturers as well as cultivators.

This website has information on local spices in Sri Lanka as well as those on the 24 outlets operated by the Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board. Further, this enables to have the spices related products delivered to any location in Sri Lanka through online methods and the Department of Posts provides such spice-related products to customers expeditiously. In future, the Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board has planned to offer the foreign customers to purchase spices related products through online method.

This occasion was graced by Mr. Janaka Dharmakeerthi, Secretary, Ministry of Plantation Industries, Mrs. Kumuduni Gunasekare, Chairman, Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board, Mr. Mahesh Gunarathne, Chief Executive Director, Spices and Allied Products Marketing Board and Dr. Saranga Alahapperuma, Chairman, Sri Lanka Industrial Development Board and many others.