Colombo. Monday 26 March 2012. Lassana Flora recently opened Sri Lanka’s first ever Flower Collection Centre in Nuwara Eliya, thereby further expanding its service offering to its hundreds of suppliers in the upcountry region. It was inaugurated by the Mayor of Nuwara Eliya His Worship Mahinda Dodampe Gamage.   Strategically situated at the Nuwara Eliya Economic Centre, this Flower Collection Centre enables both growers and suppliers to bring their flowers to a centrally located point with the least possible expense on transportation. Strict guidelines will be adopted when accepting flowers to ensure that quality standards are met. The flowers are then packed in plastic containers preserving freshness before they are transported in cooler trucks.

“This Centre is undoubtedly a boost to the hundreds of small-growers and suppliers in the Nuwara Eliya district who find both difficult and costly to transport their flowers to distant locations such as Colombo. In the past, about 20% of the flowers received monthly, was discarded due to damage in transportation. We are now in an enviable position of collecting thousands of flowers with speed and convenience and thereby preserving their freshness and quality in the process. With the launch of this Centre we have also been able to reduce damage to flowers during transportation to almost 05%, in addition to giving our clients best quality flowers and floral arrangements, said Lassana Flora’s Chairman / Managing Director Dr. Lasantha Malavige.

“This Centre will also function as our main CSR project. Through this we will share our knowledge and expertise with suppliers on how to fine tune and further improve their growing skills and get the best possible produce. Newcomers on the other hand will be able to obtain advice and guidance on how to venture into the growing of flowers as a successful commercial business. Through this Centre we also want to encourage a greater number of small-time suppliers to commence growing flowers in their backyards. Given the salubrious and conducive climate, Nuwara Eliya and its surrounding areas have hundreds of such people. Given the proper guidance they can soon become successful entrepreneurs and thus earn an additional income”, Dr, Malavige added.