The Capacity Building Program on the Horticulture Industry was successfully conducted by the Sri Lanka Council for Agricultural Research Policy (SLCARP) in collaboration with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) on 26^th May 2026 at Jasmine Hall, BMICH, Colombo 07.

This program has been designed to enhance capacities in strategic policy formulation and technical competencies of the stakeholders of the horticulture sector, thereby contributing to the development of sustainable agriculture in Sri Lanka. The key areas included in the program were horticultural policy development, advanced cultivation and post-harvest technologies, and marketing strategies, along with exposure to relevant institutional frameworks and field practices that is in operation in the Republic of Korea.

The event commenced with an inaugural session featuring the welcome address delivered by Dr. S. M. P. C. Padmini, Deputy Director (Research Management), SLCARP. The program was further graced by the chief guest Mr. D. P. Wickramasinghe, Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Land & Irrigation. Ms. Sunhyung Hwang, Deputy Country Director of KOICA Sri Lanka Office, and Ms. Boyoung Kim, Senior Manager of KOICA also attend to this program.

The technical session was chaired by Dr. Roshni F. Hafeel, Director of the Horticultural Crops Research and Development Institute, and included a series of expert presentations covering key aspects of the horticulture sector:

• Institutional and policy insights for the horticulture sector by Prof. A. L. Sandika, Director/Chief Executive Officer, Hector Kobbekaduwa Agrarian Research and Training Institute
• Application of Korean best practices to the Sri Lankan horticultural industry by Prof B. D. Rohitha Prasantha, Chairman, National Institute of Postharvest Management
• Marketing strategies for horticultural and floriculture crops by H.M.K. Priyantha Welikumbura Agricultural Instructor, Department of National Botanic Gardens, Floriculture Research and Development Unit, Royal Botanic Gardens

The program concluded with an interactive panel discussion focusing on the way forward for strengthening Sri Lanka's horticulture industry. The vote of thanks was delivered by Ms. Thilini Dinushka, Research Officer, SLCARP, followed by a networking lunch.