News
Lumbini Tea Valley’s ‘Singharaja Wiry Tips’ wins its 43rd and 44th International Awards at Leafies UK
‘Singharaja Wiry Tips,’ produced by Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon, was awarded its 43rd and 44th International Awards at the prestigious ‘The Leafies International Tea Awards’, held at Fortnum & Mason, United Kingdom, on Friday.
The unique low grown tea was named the Best Ceylon Black Tea as well as the “Best of All Black Teas” (Best Black Tea in the show) and is probably the most awarded Black Tea in the world!
‘Singharaja Wiry Tips’ categorised as FBOPF EX SP ( Flowery Broken Orange Pekoe Fannings Extra Special), is named for its golden tipped Wiry leaves and unique flavour it inherits from the UNESCO World Heritage Singharaja Rainforest which borders the Lumbini Tea plantation.
Lumbini Tea Valley is well known for its exceptional teas, and ‘Lumbini Screw Buds’, a new and innovative tea creation, was highly commended at this year’s Leafies, further strengthening the brand’s reputation for producing world-class Ceylon tea.
Chairman and Managing Director of Lumbini Tea Valley Ceylon, Chaminda Jayawardena, who was in London to accept the awards, thanked the entire Lumbini family, whose dedication and commitment over the years have made this success possible.
He also extended his special appreciation to the 1,800 tea farmers who supply the finest quality green leaf, carefully plucking the traditional “two leaves and a bud”, ensuring superior standards from field to cup.
by PRIYAN DE SILVA
News
Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 submited to parliament
As per the provisions of section 51 of the Public Finance Managaement Act No. 44 of 2024, the public should be issued with a report on the final budgetary situation for each year and, the report is then published in the official website of the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development.
Thereby the report has to be submitted to the Parliament. The final budgetary situation report (Annual Report) – 2025 has been prepared by the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development and published. The report contains the Public Finance Policy, strategies and challenges, economic trends in 2025, macro – economic and socio – economic indicators covering all sectors of the economy as well as description on the global economic growth.
Furthermore, it accompanies a detailed description government revenue and expenditure, cash flow management, financing the budget deficit and the loan structure.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the Report on the Final Budgetary Condition (Annual Report) – 2025 to Parliament.
Business
Cabinet nod to accept increased Loan Grant provided by the Asian Development Bank under Policy Based Loan Facilities – 2026
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was granted at their meeting held on 16.03.2026 to obtain United States Dollars 380 million from the policy – based loan facilities of the Asian Development Bank in the year 2026.
United States Dollars 100 million out of it is allocated for Trade, Investment and Industries Development Programme – Sub Programme 1. However, amidst the economic uncertainty resulting from the current Middle East crisis and the climatic tragedies, the Asian Development Bank has agreed to assist
by increasing a supplementary financing package of United States Dollars 100 million so that it will beMincreased up to United States Dollars 200 million.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to take further measures to obtain the said loan grant.
News
Submission of Revenue Protection Order Prepared under the Provisions of the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 to the Parliament for its approval.
Approval of the Cabinet of Ministers was given at the meeting held on 23.02.2026 to impose the custom import duty amounts under four (04) categories as 0%, 10%, 20%, and 30% which had been executed only under three (03) categories in order to increase the target export income of the country, to execute the
recommendations of the national customs duty policies committee, and to implement new national sub division customs codes for promoting the local agricultural and industrial sector.
Imposing provisions in relation to the above, the Revenue Protection Order – No. 01/2026 under the Revenue Protection Act No. 19 of 1962 has been published in the extraordinary gazette notification No. 2478/03 of 03.03.2026.
Accordingly, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the resolution furnished by the President in his capacity as the Minister of Finance, Planning and Economic Development to submit the said revenue protection order to Parliament for its concurrence.
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