The world‑famous beverage from Sri Lanka, Ceylon Tea, is set to enter a new era with the infusion of Biotechnology 4.0, marking a knowledge‑based export drive for the country’s botanical market.
A major milestone in this science‑led industrialization was reached this week when the Board of Investment (BOI) granted formal approval for a state‑of‑the‑art botanical extraction facility by Natex Extracts (Pvt) Limited.
The project, backed by foreign direct investment (FDI) of USD 1.5 million (over LKR 450 million), will be established in the Pallekele Export Processing Zone in Kandy. It will introduce advanced biotechnology to the heart of Sri Lanka’s tea‑growing region.
Technological leadership for the facility will be provided by Dr. Samuel Perm Mathi Maran, a renowned scientist specializing in phytopharmaceutical innovation, botanical drug research, and green biotechnology. (Newswire)