Maskeliya estates and factories secure prestigious Rainforest certification
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Tea estate
Estate and factories of Maskeliya Plantations PLC, owned by the Richard Pieris Group, have obtained the Rainforest Alliance Certificate.
The factories are Laxapana Estate, Maskeliya; Moray Estate, Maskeliya; Hapugastenna Estate, Maskeliya; Moussakelle Estate, Maskeliya; Brownlow Estate, Maskeliya; Glentilt Estate, Maskeliya; Glenugie (Deeside) Estate, Maskeliya; Mocha Estate, Maskeliya; Strathspey Esate, Upcot; St. Clair Estate, Talawakelle; Talawakelle Estate, Talawakelle; Troup Estate, Talawakelle and Ferham Estate, Talawakelle.
Five smallholders – Dotella Estate, Bittern Estate, Peakfield (ADCG), Estate, Peakfield (ADCG), Peakfield – Block 2 Estate, situated in and around Maskeliya who supply leaf to Glentilt Estate, Laxapana Estate and Moray Estate, respectively too have obtained the Rainforest Alliance certificate along with the Maskeliya Plantations’ estates, according to a company media statement. It said this is the first time in Sri Lanka that a large number of estates together with the bought leaf suppliers have obtained a Rainforest Alliance (RA) – Sustainable Agriculture Network (SAN) Group Certificate.
This certification is an internationally recognised integrated environmental, social and ethical compliance programme, consistent performance and results achieved through the implementation of best environmental and biodiversity conservation and management practices under this programme have largely contributed towards securing this certificate.The company said these environmental messages have been passed onto the villages in and around the estates, small vegetable farmers, teachers and students of the main Government schools in the Maskeliya, Upcot and Talawakelle areas. Sunil Poholiyadde, Managing Director of Maskeliya Plantations PLC, is making arrangement to also obtain Rainforest Alliance Group Certification for two other plantation companies – Kegalle Plantations PLC and Namunukula Plantations PLC, the release said