Furthering its commitment to fostering academic collaboration and advancing innovation in the food and beverage industry, the Consumer Foods Sector of John Keells Holdings (JKH) comprising Ceylon Cold Stores (CCS) and Keells Food Products PLC (KFP) formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Faculty of Agriculture, University of Peradeniya.
The partnership aims to strengthen research and development capabilities within the sector by facilitating collaborative initiatives between academia and industry. Through this MoU, both undergraduate and postgraduate students will gain valuable opportunities to participate in industry-aligned research, while JKH Consumer Foods will benefit from access to academic expertise, laboratory facilities, and product trial support. The collaboration is designed to foster knowledge exchange, drive innovation, and enable continuous improvement across manufacturing and product development operations.
Commenting on the partnership, Daminda Gamlath, President – Consumer Foods, stated, “We believe that true innovation lies at the intersection of industry and academia. This partnership with the University of Peradeniya marks a significant step forward in bridging that gap, enabling us to jointly explore and develop impactful solutions in food science and technology. It also reflects our commitment to nurturing young talent and integrating scientific research into our operations to elevate the standards of the local food and beverage industry.”
The MoU signing ceremony was graced by the presence of Prof. Terrance Madhujith, Vice Chancellor of the University of Peradeniya, Prof. Barana Jayawardana, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, and senior academic staff members. Representing the JKH Consumer Foods Sector were Daminda Gamlath, President – Consumer Foods, Sanjeewa Jayasundara, Head of Supply Chain – CCS; Viranga Wickramarathna, CEO – KFP; along with R&D Heads Udaya Padmakumara (CCS) and Nirosh Lalantha (KFP).
This collaboration marks a new chapter in the ongoing efforts by the JKH Consumer Foods Sector to embed research-led practices within its value chain and to contribute meaningfully to the development of Sri Lanka’s food and beverage industry through sustained academic engagement.