Sri Lanka continues to enjoy its status as the top cinnamon supplier in the world by providing 80 percent of the requirement, the Ministry of Export Development and International Trade says.

According to Ministry sources, several measures have been taken to consolidate this position. The Export Development Board has taken steps on the guidance of Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris to modernise production units by introducing a procedure known as ‘Good Manufacturing Process’ which is hygienic and efficient. Financial aid and guidance will also be provided for modernising all processing centres.

The Minister handed over three million rupees to several production units for construction and procuring machinery for processing, in Talduwa, Karandeniya, Telwatta and Kosgoda.

The Export Development Board will provide funds from the allocations made for agricultural export zones in the 2009 Budget.

Twenty factories will be modernised in the first phase.