10/04/2026
Meet Sudu Banda and Senevirathne, two paddy farmers who cultivate our fields in Wellawaya. Set amidst 50 acres of lush paddy lands, Jetwing Kaduruketha works closely with over 20 local farming families to revive a centuries-old way of life, embracing regenerative agriculture.
The Sinhala and Tamil New Year is rooted in Sri Lanka’s ancient agricultural calendar. Long before modern celebrations, it marked the Aluth Sahal Mangallaya, the new-rice harvest festival, when farming communities paused to thank the Sun God for a bountiful yield before the monsoon rains.
Here, we organically grow heirloom rice varieties such as Pachchaperumal, Suwandel, Kuruluthuda, Kahawanu, and Batapolal; grains that once thrived across the island and remain naturally resilient to our climate. By using organic fertilisers, natural pest management, and minimal tillage, we nurture healthy soils, rich biodiversity, and nutrient-dense harvests. This thriving landscape supports pollinators, sequesters carbon, and sustains both community livelihoods and the land, honouring the true spirit of the New Year.
