Sri Lankan Tea celebrated at Australian Federal Parliament

A 2017 Tea Party was organised in the Main Committee Room of the Australian Parliament on Wednesday 6 September. 

The Tea Party was co-hosted by the Australia Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group and the Sri Lanka High Commission in Canberra to celebrate the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the 150th anniversary of the Sri Lankan tea industry. The Sri Lanka Tea Board was the main partner at the event and provided material support to make the event a success.

Scott Buchholz (Liberal), Chair of the Australia Sri Lanka Parliamentary Friendship Group, Emma Hussar (Labour), Vice-Chair of the Group and High Commissioner Skandakumar were the co-hosts of the event. The Tea Board was represented by Premala Srikantha, Director (Promotion) and Kavinda Illeperuma, Market Promotion Officer. A close friend of Sri Lanka and member of the Parliamentary Friendship Group Julian Hill (Labour), who facilitated coordination with Parliament, played the role of MC.

Members of the House of Representatives of Australia Senators, Australian government officials, tea industry experts, hoteliers and other invitees enjoyed tea from the seven tea growing regions of Sri Lanka along with Sri Lankan savouries and sweets, as well as popular Sri Lankan flavours of ginger, lemon, cinnamon, jaggery and honey. 

The seven varieties of tea displayed at the event allowed an appreciation of the subtle differences in texture, colour, aroma and taste associated with the seven tea growing regions of Uva, Sabaragamuwa, Kandy, Nuwara Eliya, Dimbula, Uda Pussellawa and Ruhuna. A gift bag containing information on Sri Lankan tea, health benefits of drinking tea and a gift pack of the seven regional teas was given to all guests.