Lanka’s first export-oriented private tissue culture lab opens in Nikaweratiya

Marking a new chapter in Sri Lanka’s agricultural innovation, the Lotus Group of Companies inaugurated the country’s first SME based export-oriented private tissue culture laboratory at their farm premises in Dalukgolla, Nikaweratiya.

The inauguration ceremony was graced by Deepal Udukumbura, Vice President – Agri Business of Hatton National Bank, who attended as Chief Guest, alongside government officials and members of the agricultural sector.

Equipped with the latest technological innovations, the laboratory aims to produce high-quality, disease-free planting materials for both local and export markets. The facility enables large-scale plant propagation under sterile, controlled conditions, ensuring uniformity, quality, and rapid multiplication of elite plant varieties.

Managing Director of Lotus Group, D. A. M. Janith Abeykoon who opened the laboratory said: “Through this lab, we are not only supporting farmers and exporters but also paving the way for advanced research in new plant variants and modern cultivation techniques.”

The laboratory is currently producing tissue-cultured fruit crops such as banana and pineapple, flower crops including orchids and vinca, and commercially valuable species like agarwood and aloe vera.

Further research focuses on expanding the plant portfolio, developing new genetic lines, and exploring innovative methods to enhance yield and quality for export markets.