Mr. Reginald Cooray, Minister for Minor Export Crop Promotion, Mr. Vajira Narampanawa, Chairman of IPC/Secretary to the Ministry of Minor Export Crop Promotion, Mr. S. Kannan, Executive Director of the International Pepper Community, Mr. WDL Gunaratne, Director General Department of Export Agriculture and Other senior government officers and trade representatives from all the producing and major consuming countries attended the inaugural Session took place on 30th October morning.
Chief Guest Hon. Basil Rajapaksha (3rd from left),
Hon. Minister of Minor Export Crops Promotion, Mr. Reginald Cooray (2nd from left),
Mr. Vajira Narampanawa, Chairman of IPC/Secretary to the Ministry of Minor Export Crop Prommotion (1st left)
and Mr. S. Kannan, Exec. Director of IPC (4th from left)
The 40th Session of IPC is being hosted by the Ministry of Minor Export Crop Promotion and is jointly organized by the Department of Export Agriculture, Spice Council and IPC Jakarta. More than 380 delegates including around 200 foreign delegates from 24 countries are participating at this year Session being held in Mount Lavinia Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka from 30th October till 2 Nov. 2012.
Sri Lanka is joined IPC as full member in 1998 and the 40th Session is the 3rd IPC Meetings hosted by the Sri Lanka in addition to the two previious Session had in 1998 (Colombo) and 2006 (Kandy)
Sri Lanka produced on average about 16,000 tons of pepper. The country also produces other spices for exports including Cinnamon, Cloves, Nutmeg, Vanilla etc. (IO/IPC)
