Ceylon Cinnamon - Book Launch on 30th November

Sri Lanka had been a hub and a prominent cradle of spice trade in the ancient world, in which true cinnamon (Cinnamomum zeylanicum Blume) occupied an exalted position.

It was the key spice that attracted Europeans to Sri Lanka (then Ceylon). The Portuguese, who conquered Sri Lanka in the early sixteenth century, wrested the cinnamon trade from the Arabs who had kept it as a jealously guarded secret for many centuries. Following the Portuguese takeover of the cinnamon trade, growing demand for cinnamon throughout the world created a lucrative market; this led the Dutch into battle with the Portuguese and gain control of the cinnamon industry in the mid-seventeenth century.

Though there are so many research publications, monographs, booklets, and leaflets published in Sri Lanka on Ceylon Cinnamon, a concise textbook for common readers those who seek information about Ceylon cinnamon has not been published with international repute.

A book titled “Cinnamon – Botany, Agronomy, Chemistry and Industrial Applications “edited by two Sri Lankan scientists Prof Ranjith Senaratne and Prof Ranjith Pathirana with vast collection of research findings done by Sri Lankan scientists now published by internationally renowned publisher Springer. Cinnamon is one of the main foreign exchange earners in the global market, however consumers are not aware of the health hazards associated with regular consumption of cassia main competitor to Ceylon Cinnamon this book will create much needed global awareness about this issue, paving the way for formulating necessary food regulations and legislation in the interests of consumers.

Contributors to the book constitute internationally renowned senior scientists and academics with handson experience as well as movers and shakers in the cinnamon industry, thereby striking a right balance between theory and practice. Therefore, this will be a valuable source book for students, teachers,scientists, planners, policy makers, practicing agriculturists, and industrialists, and a prized acquisition to any library in higher education institutions, R & D institutions, and public and private sector institutions in agriculture and allied fields.

It is our fervent hope that this book will stimulate strategic research on cinnamon, unleashing and harnessing the potential of this wonder plant for the benefits of mankind while providing necessary knowledge and technology for the benefit of consumers and other stakeholders in the cinnamon industry.

At the same occasion another important textbook titled The Future of the Agriculture, and the Agriculture of the Future, a new book on agriculture which of great relevance and value to the academics and students in agriculture and allied fileds is also ready to be launched. Both books comprising over 500 pages each with hard covers.

Ceremonial Books launch is on 30thNovember at BMICH, Minster of Plantation Hon. Dr Ramesh Pathirana as the chief guest with several other dignitaries representing foreign embassies Sri Lankan scientists, Processor’s industrialist, exporters and cinnamon planters.

Event is generously sponsored by leading spice exporter Mr D A Perera , EOAS Organics Pvt. Ltd .Chairman The Spice Council .