Uva Wellassa University and Kurunegala Plantation Limited signed an agreement on September 01, 2015, in accordance with a mutual desire, to promote the Coconut Industry by working cooperatively and sharing the knowledge & skills, resources, and experience. Activities to be undertaken after this agreement will hopefully contribute to produce graduates who are competent, innovative, self-driven and entrepreneurial. This is expected by providing a strong practical experience in a Field Training programme, which is a mandatory component in the curriculum. Based on this understanding, Kurunegala Plantation Limited will help conduct this Field Training Programme for the undergraduates of B.Sc. in Palm & Latex Technology and Value Addition Degree programme by (a) facilitating the Field Training programme on areas specified related to Coconut industry for the benefits of the undergraduates as to match the needs of Uva Wellassa University, (b) providing consultation, advising and participating in evaluation process of Field Training programme, and (c) providing technical expertise and permitting to use physical facilities. Agreement was signed by Dr. Gamani Chandrasena, Vice Chancellor, Uva Wellassa University and Mr. A.M. Upali Piyasoma, Chairman, Kurunegala Plantation Limited. Event was attended by Dr. S.C. Jayamanne, Dean, Faculty of Animal Science & Export Agriculture, and some staff members of the Department of Export Agriculture including the Head, Dr. Mangali Alwis. The MoU was initiated by Dr. Saman Herath and Dr. Mangali Alwis considering the need of exposure to the real field condition of Coconut Industry by the undergraduates of Uva Wellassa University.
Kurunegala Plantation Limited is a limited liability Company incorporated under the Companies Act No. 17 of 1982 in terms of the provisions of the Conversion of Corporations and Government owned Businesses undertakings into Public Companies Act No. 23 of 1987. The Company operates as a single shareholder company being the secretary to the Treasury of the Government of Sri Lanka as a Golden shareholder. The Company manages a portfolio of diverse agricultural products through cultivation, production, processing, and marketing of coconut, rubber and ancillary crops & produce. Kurunegala Plantations Limited comprises of eight Area Estates namely, Attanagalla, Dambadeniya, Dodangaslanda, Hiriyala, Katugampola, Kurunegala, Mahayaya and Narammala with a land area of 5,244.6 hectares that encompass different Agro Climatic Zones spanning in three districts of Kurunegala, Gampaha and Anuradhapura, and also holds 4,097 hectares of Coconut Plantations and 250 hectares of Rubber Plantations. The company has won the National Agri-business Gold Award for the 3rd consecutive year and the Gold Award for the Large Category Producer (Plantations) for the 4th consecutive year at National Agri-business Awards – 2014 confirming as a ‘Model Plantation Company’ at regional level. The vision of the company is to be a model plantation and agribusiness management company in the South East Asian Region whereas the mission is stated to manage the plantation and other agribusiness productively, profitably and sustainably through effective harnessing natural, physical and human resources in an environment friendly and socially responsible manner to the benefit of all stakeholders and the country at large.