Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC Secures Six National Honours at Presidential Environment Awards 2026

Gold Award Winner

A testament to its commitment to environmental stewardship, biodiversity conservation and sustainable plantation management

Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, a member of the Hayleys Plantations Sector, secured six prestigious national recognitions at the Presidential Environment Awards 2026, organized by the Central Environmental Authority (CEA). The awards ceremony, held on 19 October 2026 at the Bandaranaike Memorial International Conference Hall (BMICH), recognized the company’s continued commitment to environmental protection sustainable development, and renewable energy operations across in its plantations.

The six recognitions received by Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC are as follows:

Presidential Environment Awards 2026 

Commenting on this achievement, the Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai of Hayleys Plantations stated, “These six national recognitions reflect our belief that meaningful sustainability must begin at the ground level. At Talawakelle, environmental responsibility is not simply a corporate commitment it is demonstrated through the everyday actions of our estate teams, employees and operational units. From protecting biodiversity and restoring ecosystems to advancing renewable energy and responsible resource management, we remain committed to translating our sustainability ambitions into measurable environmental outcomes.”  At Talawakelle, sustainability extends beyond policy commitments and is integrated into the day-to-day management of its estates, factories and surrounding ecosystems. Guided by its ReGen Agenda 2030, the company continues to strengthen its regenerative business model through climate action, biodiversity conservation, circular economy practices, water stewardship and sustainable agriculture. As the world’s first plantation company to have its Science Based Climate Targets validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), Talawakelle has committed to achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions across its value chain by 2050. This commitment is supported by investments in renewable energy, including three mini hydropower operations, rooftop solar installations and biomass based energy systems. During FY2025/26, approximately 88.2% of the company’s total energy consumption was sourced from renewable energy, while total reported greenhouse gas emissions declined by 5.1% year-on-year. 

Silver Award Winner

Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem restoration remain central to the company’s environmental strategy. Recognising the ecological importance of the landscapes in which its estates operate, Talawakelle has undertaken several initiatives to protect natural habitats and strengthen ecological connectivity. A notable intervention is the establishment of a 13-kilometre forest corridor in partnership with the Wildlife and Nature Protection Society (WNPS), involving more than 50,000 trees. The company also advanced climate resilient reforestation across 65.7 hectares during FY2025/26, alongside ecosystem restoration, biodiversity monitoring and the protection of environmentally sensitive areas. Through its Integrated Environment Conservation Model, Talawakelle promotes responsible agricultural practices and chemical free buffer zones around vulnerable water sources. Its partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to initiate a Payment for Ecosystem Services programme further demonstrates its commitment to recognising and safeguarding the long-term value of natural ecosystems. The company’s commitment to circularity is reflected in its approach to waste reduction, recycling and resource recovery. During FY2025/26, approximately 700 tonnes of biodegradable waste were converted into compost, returning valuable organic matter to estate soils and supporting regenerative agricultural practices. A significant milestone in this journey is the Somerset ECO Material Collection and Processing Centre, established under the SWYFT Project (Strengthening Women and Youth Engagement in Informal Waste Management in Sri Lanka). Located at Somerset Estate, the facility operates using hydropower and provides infrastructure for the systematic collection, segregation and processing of recyclable materials. Developed through collaboration involving The Coca Cola Foundation, Janathakshan, Neptune Recyclers and Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, the initiative also promotes women-led operations and creates livelihood opportunities for women and youth within plantation communities. 

Talawakelle’s Tea Estates PLC environmental commitment also extends to sustainable manufacturing and infrastructure development. The Kiruwanaganga Tea Factory, recognised as Sri Lanka’s first Green Building certified tea factory in the plantation sector, achieved a Gold rating under the Green Building Council of Sri Lanka’s GREENSL rating framework. Its sustainable design incorporates energy efficient systems, natural lighting, responsible material selection and improved water and resource management. At estate level, sustainable agricultural practices further reinforce this commitment through Integrated Pest Management, organic composting, green manure applications, soil conservation, climate resilient replanting and responsible agrochemical management. Water stewardship initiatives, including the protection of natural water sources, chemical free buffer zones and appropriate treatment of factory effluent, contribute to safeguarding the natural resources essential to long-term tea production.

Bronze Award Winner

Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC proudly celebrates its Gold, Silver and Bronze Award achievements at the Presidential Environment Awards 2026, recognising its continued commitment to environmental stewardship, sustainability and circularity

The company’s broader certification portfolio includes ISO 14001:2015, ISO 50001:2018 ISO 14064-1:2018, ISO 22000:2018, ISO 9001:2015, Organic certified, alongside Rainforest Alliance certification, Eco Label certification, Responsible Care certification and the Mother and Child-Friendly Seal for Responsible Business. Its participation in the United Nations Global Compact and commitment to the Women’s Empowerment Principles further demonstrate its dedication to responsible business conduct and inclusive development. The six recognitions at the Presidential Environment Awards 2026 are ultimately a reflection of the collective dedication of Talawakelle’ s estate management teams, employees and operational staff, whose everyday efforts translate environmental commitments into meaningful action. From conserving natural habitats and improving soil health to advancing renewable energy and promoting circular resource management, these achievements demonstrate that sustainability is most effective when embedded into operational practices at every level. In the 2025 LMD’s Most Awarded rankings, the company secured the No. 1 position among ''Sri Lanka’s Most Awarded Companies.'' This recognition reflects the company’s consistent performance across business excellence, environmental sustainability, governance, reporting and operational management.

As Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC continues to advance its ReGen Agenda 2030, the company remains committed to strengthening environmental performance, restoring natural ecosystems and contributing to a more resilient and sustainable plantation industry.

Representatives of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC proudly celebrate six outstanding achievements at the Presidential Environment Awards 2026, recognising the collective commitment and dedication of our teams towards environmental excellence, responsible resource management and sustainable plantation practices