The International Coconut Community (ICC) successfully held two inaugural sessions to launch the Internship Phase of the ICC Youth Empowerment Program (YEP) 2025 on 19 May 2025 at two key institutions in Sri Lanka: the Coconut Research Institute (CRI), Lunuwila, and Growrite Substrates (Pvt) Ltd., a leading coir-based industry in the country.
The ICC YEP 2025 Internship Phase is the second stage of a program designed to empower youth in ICC member countries by providing them with technical exposure, practical training, and mentorship in research and industry sectors of the coconut value chain.
Inauguration at the Coconut Research Institute (CRI)
The first inauguration took place in the morning at the Coconut Research Institute, the world’s first research institute dedicated exclusively to coconut. Prof. Ajith Jayaweera, Chairman of CRI, delivered the welcome address, highlighting the global market potential of coconut products and presenting current trends and statistics. He also praised the longstanding collaboration between CRI and ICC, expressing gratitude for ICC’s trust in hosting the internship and for continuing to strengthen scientific partnerships.
Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw, Director General of ICC, in her remarks, thanked CRI for its hospitality and support in hosting the internship program. She emphasized the critical role of youth engagement in ensuring the sustainability of the coconut sector and reaffirmed ICC’s commitment to deepening collaboration with CRI, particularly in areas such as research, innovation, and publication.
A detailed overview of the training structure was done by Dr. Vijitha Vidanachchi, Head of CRI's Tissue Culture Division. Youth participants from Indonesia and Solomon Islands who will be having 5 days of training on tissue culture introduced themselves, followed by a Vote of Thanks from Dr. Nayani Aratchchige, Director of CRI.
Following the ceremony, Dr. Jelfina Alouw and Mr. A.H.N. Chinthaka, Deputy Director General of ICC, held a productive meeting with CRI research staff. Discussions focused on collaborative research, strengthening joint publication initiatives, and addressing challenges faced by coconut researchers across member countries
.
Inauguration at Growrite Substrates (Pvt) Ltd.
The second inaugural session was held in the afternoon at Growrite Substrates (Pvt) Ltd., one of Sri Lanka’s prominent exporters of coir-based growing media. The session opened with a welcome address by Mr. Mahesh Fernando, General Manager of Growrite, followed by remarks from Dr. Jelfina C. Alouw. The event also featured remarks by Dr. Anjana Atapattu from CRI, an introduction to Growrite by Mr. Amal Dias, AGM – HR, and a formal introduction of the participating youth from Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, and Thailand.
A highlight of the session was the signing of two Memoranda of Agreement (MoA) Between ICC and Growrite Substrates (Pvt) Ltd. for hosting youth interns.
After the official session, the ICC delegation toured the Growrite factory, gaining insights into the industrial processes and product innovations that the interns will be exposed to during their two-week placement.
These inaugural sessions mark the beginning of a transformative experience for the youth participants, as they engage with leading researchers and industrial practitioners. The ICC remains committed to advancing regional cooperation, promoting youth engagement, and enhancing innovation in the coconut sector through partnerships like these.