The National Apprentice and Industrial Training Authority (NAITA) has inaugurated an advanced Cinnamon Industry Technical Training Academy at its Mawanella campus in Kegalle today, September 30, 2026.

As one of the country's prime minor export crop regions, Kegalle produces pure Ceylon cinnamon renowned for low coumarin levels and delicate aroma. The newly opened facility features mechanized peeling benches, hygienic drying chambers, and modern steam distillation labs where 180 young trainees will complete a subsidized six-month NVQ Level 4 certification. Modules cover precision quilling, European food-grade sanitary packaging, and commercial distillation of high-value cinnamon bark and leaf essential oils. NAITA directors highlighted that professionalizing spice processing transforms rural youths into certified agri-entrepreneurs capable of commanding premium wages in global markets.