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| TRI Deputy Director of Research – Production Dr. Shyamantha Bandara – Pic by Upul Abayasekara |
Sri Lanka’s tea industry must embrace climate-resilient cultivation and Geographical Indication (GI) certification to secure its long-term sustainability and competitiveness, Tea Research Institute (TRI) Deputy Director of Research – Production Dr. Shyamantha Bandara said yesterday.
Speaking at a panel discussion at the “Perspectives on Geographical Indications in Sri Lanka” forum in Colombo, Dr. Bandara said the industry must modernise cultivation systems and integrate GI standards to withstand climate risks, while meeting future production targets.
“We produced around 262 million kilograms of tea until 2024, and our target is to reach 400 million kilograms. To achieve that, we need to advance technology, improve farming systems, and modernise cultivation across the sector,” he said.
He said the tea sector supports nearly 1 million people, mainly in highland regions vulnerable to changing weather patterns. “Sri Lanka has been ranked among the countries most at risk from climate change. The tea sector is already facing production declines due to shifting rainfall patterns,” Dr. Bandara noted.
To address these challenges, he said the TRI and the industry are focusing on “cultivar selection, physiological approaches, and agronomic practices such as shade management, irrigation, and new farming systems.”
He highlighted the growing adoption of tea-and-coconut intercropping systems and terrace cultivation in mid-country regions as examples of innovation.
Dr. Bandara also said micro-irrigation, which is widely used in other tea-producing nations, could be a viable solution to counter water scarcity and ensure consistency in yield. “We must assess how introducing technologies like micro-irrigation would align with certification and sustainability frameworks under GI protection,” he added.
He said the emergence of artisanal and wild teas presents new opportunities for Sri Lankan producers to command higher prices in global markets, but added that GI protection is crucial to prevent counterfeiting and preserve product authenticity. “When new products emerge, GI protection ensures traceability, prevents mislabelling, and builds consumer trust,” he said.
Dr. Bandara said that production costs in Sri Lanka remain among the highest in the world, making market differentiation through GI certification a potential competitive advantage. “GI can assure higher market prices, strengthen international recognition, and bridge the gap between producers and consumers through digital marketing platforms,” he said.
He also called for institutional reforms to improve certification processes and digital traceability. “We must strengthen institutional coordination to implement GI standards effectively and align them with emerging marketing landscapes,” he said.
The forum, organised by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), and the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), marked the conclusion of the Ceylon Tea GI project supported by the French Agency for Development.
The initiative seeks to secure EU GI protection for Ceylon Tea following the success of Ceylon Cinnamon and to promote Sri Lanka’s broader portfolio of origin-linked agricultural and artisanal products.
