Ma's Kitchen - The Power of Fair Trade in Sri Lanka

Five years ago, from the village of Kalahugoda, Basilica De Silva joined MA’S Kitchen’s Produce of Paradise coconut production facility in Minuwangoda, Sri Lanka. The facility which has been foreclosed for many years, was reopened by MA’s Kitchen and offered career opportunities to 70 people, including women and supports over 200 organic coconut growers.

The 51-year-old Basilica, hailing from the minority Catholic community, started life as a child of a middle-class family. However, her life changed due to the unfortunate death of her father forcing the 15-year-old Basilica to leave her studies behind and support her mother to upkeep the family.

At age of 26, life started to look up once again for hard working Basilica after marriage to her soldier husband. The couple spent 17 years of happy wedded life raising two children, a son and a daughter. However, sadness crept into Basilica’s life once again when her husband was injured by a landmine while on mission during the 30-year ethnic conflict in the North of Sri Lanka.

Basilica had a very difficult time nursing a handicapped husband and supporting the family on a pension from the Army. Unfortunately, her husband passed away leaving her a single mother. Though employment at her age was difficult to come by, she was determined not to let her children lose their education like she had many years back.

With the determination to face all her difficulties, Basilica ended up at the Produce of Paradise facility. She was offered employment as a trainee production assistant. Soon, due to her commitment and hard work, Basilica became a permanent fixture at the factory’s canning line.

As meals are provided at the factory and it is located close to her home, she can save most of her income. She is now able to offer her children a comfortable life and a good education, fulfilling her dream of making them respectable professionals.