President graces National Institute of Plantation Management awards ceremony

COLOMBO (News 1st) The Certificate Award Ceremony of the National Institute of Plantation Management was held under the patronage of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre in Colombo on Tuesday (22).

The National Institute of Plantation Management was established by Act No. 45 of 1979.

It operates with the objective of maintaining the high skilled professional competence of the employees in the plantation sector, including smallholders.

The institution also conducts seminars, workshops and examinations and provides research and consulting services to both public and private sector institutions.

The President awarded Honorary Professional Membership of the National Institute of Plantation Management (NIPM) to 10 professionals, who have made significant contributions to the Plantation Industry, Fellow Membership for 09 Chartered Members, and Associate Membership for 05 professionals.

Certificates were also awarded to 224 graduates of the National Institute of Plantation Management including 12 Advanced Diploma Certificates and 86 Diploma Certificates.

Minister Ramesh Pathirana appreciated the service rendered by the National Institute of Plantation Management in imparting technical knowledge during the forty-two years to the advancement of the plantation sector, noting that this institution will have the opportunity to play a major role as a University in the near future.

The Minister pointed out that it opens the way for the development of human resources related to the plantation sector as human capital.

State Minister Kanaka Herath said that the plantation sector has made significant progress in the last two years compared to other industries, showing quality and quantitative results.

Sri Lanka's total export earnings during the last year were US $ 12.5 billion. Of this, US $ 4 billion was generated from the plantation sector. The State Minister noted that the year 2021 can be called as a golden period in the plantation sector.

Ambassadors, Secretaries of Ministry of Plantation and the State Ministry, Chairman of the National Institute of Plantation Management, Public and Private Sector Officials working in the plantation sector were also present.