Sri Lanka's GreenField Coconut Plantation was awarded the GLOBAL G.A.P. standard certification, the world's leading international standards certificate for good agricultural practices yesterday.

Prime Minister D M Jayaratne presents the trophy to GreenField Founder and Chairman Dr. Rohan Ratnayake.
 
The GreenField Founder and its Chairman Dr. Rohan Ratnayake was presented with the certificate and the trophy by Prime Minister D M Jayaratne at a ceremony held at his official residence 'Visumpaya'.

The Premier speaking on the occasion described it as a rare achievement by a Sri Lankan enterprise in the field of agriculture.

The GreenField Plantation Development and Management Company and its founder Dr. Rohan Ratnayake has brought honour and recognition to the country by their achievements in the field of coconut cultivation, he added. They have used modern technology and good management methods to achieve remarkable results at a location which most thought was not suitable for any cultivation, the Premier said referring to the area the cultivation is located in the Vanathavilluwa in the Puttalam district.

The GreenField project has introduced a modern micro irrigation system to overcome the severe drought conditions and also modern farming systems to achieve higher yields.

The Plantation which was initially started on low scale today has developed over 1,000 acres.

In addition to being a profit making venture the project is designed with the aims of promoting ultra modern agro technology blended with traditional methods, preserving environment, generating employment avenues for under privileged rural folk, connected infrastructure development etc.

Ministers Ranjith Siyambalapitiya and Jagath Pushpakumara, Dr J R P Suriyapperuma MP, Norwegian Ambassador Hilde Haraldstad and professionals in the field of agriculture also participated.

Ref: http://www.dailynews.lk/2010/12/17/news21.asp

Lankadeepa (Sinhala Version) : http://epaper.lankadeepa.lk [Page No.15]