After catching up on sleep from the flights yesterday, we awoke to a beautiful sunny morning. After a light breakfast of local fruit, eggs and toast we split into the two teams for cinnamon and fisheries.

Cinnamon

We visited the University of Ruhuna and discussed prototype technologies for both cinnamon quill and bark oil processing.

After this we revisited the cinnamon research centre and its associated nursery to update ourselves on the latest research. We saw straighter cinnamon plants being cultivated for sale to farmers. We also saw a cinnamon bark oil experiment in progress that aims to differntiate between quantities of cinnamon oil retreived from outer and inner bark.

Fisheries

Richard went to the town of Tangalle to meet with assistant director and principal of the college there, mr. Peyasena who introduced him to the local harbour and its inhabitants of fishermen, boat owners and skippers.

The extent of aid agency investment in the region’s roads, hospitals and other initiatives is apparent. A new qustion which emerges is how achievable are the opportunities created by peace in sri lanka?
Monday was a longer day than expected for richard due to the college beng invited to a “coming of age” party held in honour of the daughter of one of the staff.