Govt. reviews tea industry challenges and reform plans

Saturday, 19 July 2025 01:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

President’s Secretary Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake chairs high-level meeting focusing on improving tea quality, productivity, market diversification and smallholder support
Highlights replanting and capacity building for small estate owners as key priorities
Directs officials to propose solutions for challenges faced by tea manufacturers
Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry outlines future program including formal data system with follow-up mechanisms
Colombo Tea Traders’ Association urges strict enforcement against quality violations by factories
Proposal made to establish coordination platform among manufacturers, exporters, smallholders and State

A high-level meeting chaired by Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake was held on Thursday to assess key challenges and development priorities in the tea industry.

The discussion focused on enhancing tea quality, boosting productivity, exploring new export markets and supporting smallholders through replanting initiatives and capacity-building programs.

The challenges faced by tea manufacturers were also discussed and Dr. Kumanayake instructed officials to provide constructive solutions to these issues.

The importance of implementing various programs for the capacity development of small tea estate owners was also discussed. During this, the necessity of drawing manufacturers’ attention to replanting tea was also deliberated.

Discussions also covered the future program to be implemented by the Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry regarding tea cultivation, including the establishment of a formal data system and the need for its proper follow-up.

In addition, the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA) urged the Government to strictly enforce the law against factories that compromise quality during tea production.

The establishment of a platform to improve coordination among tea manufacturers, exporters, small tea estate owners and Government officials was also discussed.

Dr. Kumanayake stated that further steps would be taken after discussions with the relevant ministry. This is expected to allow for a detailed investigation of emerging issues in the tea industry and to provide swift and efficient solutions.

The Tea Smallholder Factory owners expressed its appreciation to the Government for inviting small tea estate owners to this discussion.

Among those present at the meeting were President’s Senior Additional Secretary Kapila Janaka Bandara, Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry Additional Secretary W. M. T. D. Wickramasinghe, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman R. K. Obeysekera, officials from the Small Tea Estate Development Authority, the Sri Lanka Tea Research Institute, the Inland Revenue Department and the General Treasury, as well as representatives from various associations in the tea sector.