Sunshine Tea Limited advances Sri Lanka’s tea legacy through global standards and local value creation

International Tea Day highlights tea’s significance for Sri Lanka, sustaining livelihoods, generating foreign exchange, and carrying national identity globally. 

Sunshine Tea views tea as a bridge connecting the Sri Lankan enterprise with global opportunities. The Group believes the future of Ceylon Tea depends on its responsible, consistent, and intelligent distribution worldwide.

This year, International Tea Day dawns as global markets increasingly value trust, transparency, and ethical sourcing. Consumers want to know how products are grown and traded. Buyers seek quality partners who also follow responsible practices. This creates both a challenge and an opportunity for Sri Lanka’s tea industry.

Sunshine Tea positions Sri Lankan tea as a value-led export that matters beyond just commodity trade. Its tea export operations connect Ceylon Tea with over 40 countries, from the US to the Far East, Europe and the Middle East. This reach generates over USD 25 million annually, boosting Sri Lanka’s export earnings and supporting Ceylon Tea’s global reputation.

The Group’s role is more than strong export performance. Tea is closely tied to local communities and skill development. Sunshine Tea employs over 300 Sri Lankans, creating jobs in areas such as tea blending, packing, tasting, and quality assurance that require technical expertise and market understanding. Recognition as one of the top 15 Best Workplaces™ by Great Place to Work® Sri Lanka demonstrates that people are central to business growth.

People and standards are inseparable in tea. Each shipment to buyers carries Sri Lanka’s reputation as an origin. Sunshine Tea builds its exports on globally recognised practices and certifications, including ISO 9001, FSSC 22000, Fair Trade, Rainforest Alliance, Organic, Halaal and SMETA.

These certifications are more than operational requirements. They help the Group protect quality, boost buyer confidence and meet market expectations for responsible sourcing. They also reinforce Ceylon Tea’s reputation as a trusted Sri Lankan product that meets international standards.

Sunshine Tea Chief Executive Officer, Sanjeeva Saranapala said, “Ceylon Tea has always carried the strength of Sri Lanka’s heritage, but its future will be shaped by how well we compete in a market that now demands quality, consistency, transparency, and value addition. At Sunshine Tea, our focus is to take Sri Lankan tea beyond traditional export models by building trusted partnerships, developing market-relevant products, and maintaining global standards across every stage of our operations. This is how we continue to support Sri Lanka’s export economy while creating long-term value for our people, our partners, and the communities connected to the tea industry.”

The global tea market is changing. Buyers want more than supply; they seek flexibility, consistency, and products that cater to different preferences. Sunshine Tea builds custom blends, private-label solutions, and handles processing and packaging. This helps international customers bring unique tea products to market.

This change is important for Sri Lanka. Value-added exports let the country compete on more than volume. They support customer relationships, improve market position and help Sri Lankan tea climb the global value chain. Sunshine Tea works with brands and partners to deliver tea solutions rooted in Sri Lankan quality, shaped for global consumers.

International Tea Day underscores Sri Lanka’s tea industry message: heritage is vital, but translating it into value, trust, and relevance drives competitiveness. Sunshine Tea combines local capability, global standards, export discipline, and responsible growth to achieve this.

For Sunshine Holdings, tea is central to Sri Lanka’s economy, community growth, and sustainable trade. Its ongoing commitment to ethical sourcing, value addition, and market access shows how local businesses strengthen the country’s global position.

On International Tea Day 2026, Sunshine Tea celebrates tea as a legacy and dynamic industry, creating opportunity and connecting communities with global customers. Ceylon Tea remains a story of resilience and responsible enterprise.