In Sri Lanka the major varieties of palms are Palmyra Palm or Borassus Palm) Coconut Palm' or Cocos nucifera,
Kitul palm or Caryota Urens and the Areca Nut palm or areca palm Areca catechu.
Techno-economic aspects of production and utilization of two related palms
kitul (Caryota urens) and palmyra.
Within the reserve the large variety of plants traditionally used by humans includes the
kitul palm (Caryota urens), the source of jaggery, a sweetener used as a sugar substitute; wewal (Calamus), rattans that are used for wickerwork; Ceylon cardamon (Elettaria ensal), a spice and flavoring; dun (Shorea), a source of varnishes and aromatic wood for incense; and weniwal (Coscinium fenestratum), the source of a yellowing coloring agent and active principles with tonic and digestive properties.
Colombo, April 11 -- Douglas Devananda, Minister of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development at a discussion he had with Media personnel declaring open the "Kithulaka Varuna"- 2012 Exhibition held at "Sudarshi" Hall, Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo, stated that "
Kitul" cultivation will be methodically developed in the 120 Divisional Secretariat Divisions where it was found to be widely spread.
Ministry of Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development has launched a programme to develop
kitul cultivation and uplift the
Kitul Industry as a traditional Industry in Sri Lanka and also to train all those presently engaged in the industry.
One of these two factories is the rehabilitated coir factory at Seenimodara, Tangalle, and the other is the
Kitul Palm based processing factory at Uda Alubodeniya village.