Awarding Ceremony 2023

Cinnamon Training Academy held the National Vocational Qualification (NVQ) Certificate Awards Ceremony on 20th September 2023 at Cinnamon Training Academy, aimed at recognizing the trainees who have successfully completed their NVQ 3 and NVQ 4 courses.

State Minister of Investment and Promotion Honorable Dilum Amunugama was the chief guest and H.E. Katsuki Kotaro, Deputy Head of Japanese Embassy, was the guest of honor. Additionally, Senior International Expert (UNIDO) Dr. Jairo Villamil Diaz, Pd, Senior government officials, directors and investors of CTA, among other dignitaries were also present at the event.

A total of 52 certificates were awarded to deserving individuals.

Addressing that distinguished gathering, Mr.Sarada M. De Silva, Chairman, Cinnamon Training Academy, welcomed all the guests representing the cinnamon industry. He thanked the European Union (EU), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and World Trade Organisation – Standards & Trade Development Fund (WTO- STDF) for funding and all assistance to CTA. He also thanked the Government of Sri Lanka, Ministries and agencies for all the assistance given over the years to CTA. Specially the Private sector industry leaders who invested in CTA.

Dr. Jairo Villamil-Diaz, Senior International Specialist of UNIDO, while addressing the ceremony, said that he will continue to support Cinnamon Training Academy in implementing all the activities carried out through his organization.

The academy was established to address the shortage of trained cinnamon processors in Sri Lanka and is the only organization approved and accredited by the Tertiary Vocational Education Commission to award NVQ level 3 and 4 in the cinnamon industry. CTA was ceremonially opened by Hon. Sarath Amunugama Senior Minister on 05th April 2016. Brought tree processing factory in 2021 funded by EU and implemented by UNIDO.

The primary objective of CTA is to “provide services to train value chain actors in the cinnamon industry for increasing the production capacity and enhance quality and standards compliance capacity to elevate the industry to a national symbol of quality and excellence”. The CTA has pioneered an international trade compliance system for Sri Lanka’s cinnamon industry.

The CTA, which is open to multiple stakeholders of the industry including estate owners, processors, growers, supervising staff, exporters, and newcomers to the industry, is backed by such lead players in the industry in terms of expertise and investment.

The CTA was funded and assisted by the WTO-STDF, UNIDO, FAO, IFEAT, GOSL/EDB, and 20 industry leaders who invested. The future plans for the CTA include building male and female hostels and an auditorium, offering 8 and 10 programs, and mechanizing cinnamon processing to boost productivity and reduce production costs. The academy also aims to convert into a spice training academy as per the project proposal developed by UNIDO, with partial assistance pledged by the WTO-STDF.

Mr. T.P.L. Raj, Chairman of Erin International Pvt Ltd delivered the vote of thanks. He thanked the European Union, UNIDO, EDB, Government of Sri Lanka, Departments, and Agencies. He also thanked Mr. Sarada De Silva for all his hard work in establishing and improving the CTA. In addition, he expressed gratitude to all those who supported the academy and encouraged those in the cinnamon industry to make use of the training progress provided by the CTA.