03-Jun-2026

Opening of the Miniature Tea Processing Unit at Meewathura Farm

The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, officially opened the Miniature Tea Processing Unit on 03 June 2026 at the Meewathura Farm premises.

This newly established facility serves as an extension of the "Aroma Acres Study Fields", a dedicated teaching, research, and demonstration area located at Meewathura Farm. The initiative aims to strengthen practical education, research, and outreach activities related to tea cultivation and processing.

The development of both the Aroma Acres Study Fields and the Miniature Tea Processing Unit was supported through the N-Tea Project, titled "Can organic farming practices increase nitrogen (N) use efficiency and decrease N losses in mature tea (Camellia sinensis L. (O.) Kuntze) plantations in Sri Lanka?". The project was funded under the SPIRIT Program of the Swiss National Science Foundation.

The N-Tea Project represents a successful international collaboration among the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, ETH Zurich, Switzerland, and the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka (TRI).

Principal Investigators of the Project

• Prof. Janaki Mohotti
• Prof. Emmanuel Frossard
• Dr. Keerthi Mohotti

The project collaborators included:

University of Peradeniya

• Prof. S. P. Nissanka
• Prof. Lalith Suriyagoda
• Dr. Mojith Ariyaratne
• Dr. Duminda Vidana Gamage

ETH Zurich, Switzerland

• Dr. Astrid Oberson
• Dr. Hans-Martin Krause
• Dr. Julie Tolu
• Dr. Federica Tamburini

Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka

• Dr. Mahesh Liyanage
• Dr. Deepthi Amarasena

The Faculty of Agriculture extends its sincere appreciation to all collaborators and funding partners whose contributions have enabled the establishment of this important facility, further strengthening teaching, research, and innovation in Sri Lanka's tea sector.

22-Jul-2026

Agriculture Library Open Day-2026

The Library Committee of the Faculty of Agriculture will organize the Agriculture Library Open Day-2026 for the third consecutive year. This annual event will be held on 6 August 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., at the Agriculture Library and Appadurai Auditorium, University of Peradeniya. This year, 100 students and their teachers from 20 schools across five educational zones in the Kandy and Matale districts are invited. Each school will be represented by five Grade 12 Biology and Agriculture students and one teacher, ensuring a dynamic and enriching educational experience.

The main objective of this initiative is to raise awareness among Advanced Level Biology and Agriculture students about the comprehensive academic resources available at the Agriculture Library and to encourage their effective use as they pursue higher education in agriculture. The program also aims to provide insights into the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Peradeniya. In line with the program, an inter-school Library Quest Challenge will also be held, in which teams of five students will participate in a guided exploration of library resources. Winning schools will receive valuable books as a token of appreciation. The event will be graced by the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, the Director of the Postgraduate Institute of Agriculture, the Librarian of the University of Peradeniya, as well as academic and non-academic staff members of the Library and the Faculty of Agriculture. Furthermore, a motivational speech will be delivered to the students by Prof. Chalinda Beneragama an eminent academic in the field of Crop Science from the Department of Crop Science of University of Peradeniya.

19-Jun-2026

Visit of International Research Experts from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, UK

The Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, was pleased to welcome Dr. Caspar Chater and Dr. Aaron Davis from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, United Kingdom, during their visit from 8–12 June 2026.

Both visitors are Senior Research Leaders in the Crops and Global Change Team, Trait Diversity and Function Department at Kew and are internationally recognized experts in coffee and cocoa research. Their visit marks the beginning of a promising research collaboration between the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, and the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya, focusing on coffee and cocoa research.

During their stay, Dr. Chater and Dr. Davis delivered guest lectures, met with the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, and participated in several field visits and discussions with academic staff. These engagements provided valuable opportunities for knowledge exchange and the exploration of future collaborative research initiatives.

We are delighted to share some highlights from their visit and look forward to strengthening this partnership in the years ahead.