Business

Sri Lanka tea industry facing up to new challenges

Published

6 years ago

2020/11/5

Since the Spanish flu infected close to a third of the, then global population a century ago, not even the First & Second World Wars could bring about an enormous tragedy on the human race until the COVID 19 pandemic hit all corners of Planet Earth. The New Corona Virus cases are already racing towards the 50 million mark and the death toll exceeding 1.2 million people with just the Second Wave of the pandemic beginning to spread all over the world like a wild fire aided by the natural wind.

The in tropical & mystic island of Sri Lanka blessed with abundance of rich culture and fertile nature, rain forest, daily direct sunlight of at least 6 hours throughout the year resulting in a conducive climate, soil and weather ideal for growing tea.

Sri Lanka in entirety and the tea industry in particular overcame the First Wave of the COVID 19 during the 2nd Quarter of 2020 with admirable success. The immediate transformation from an “outcry system” to an online electronic Colombo Tea Auction after more than 125 years and the continuation of the total value chain mechanism from the growing, plucking, manufacturing, selling at the weekly auctions, blending & packaging, and finally marketing & exporting branded, packeted or bulk form during the lockdown by defining the tea industry and its export process as an essential service saved the day for “Ceylon Tea”. Though the tea crop has declined over 10% due to a number of causes, the tea prices fetched at the Colombo Tea Auction has in fact appreciated by 15% up to end of September 2020 vis-a-vis same period of last year from Rs 542 per kilo to Rs 624 per kilo.

Today, the world has reached a crucial milestone where every nation is searching for human immunity boosting methods to counter the Corona Virus infection until an effective vaccination is introduced to the global masses. In that context, drinking warm beverages and inhaling hot vapour is generally believed to be helpful. This is where the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka (TRI) in collaboration with the analytical laboratory of SLTB has conducted a literature survey and further studies on “Theaflavins in Black Tea” and concluded black tea may be helpful in controlling and flushing out the viruses. The TRI has released a scientific publication under the topic “Antiviral properties of Tea” where it has been noted that drinking Black Tea helps to fight viruses. It could theoretically draw a parallel to a Taiwan research study (original article published in 2005) where the chemical structure of 64 compounds had been bioinformatically modelled against SARS – COVID – 2.

The hypothesis developed by the scientists that “Theaflavins” an antioxidant polyphenol richly found in Black Tea could potentially inhibit an enzyme from the Corona family and increase the human immunity, will need further investigations to establish authenticity. Nevertheless, “Theaflavins” is proven to be a compound which could alleviate respiratory diseases and open air passages in the human lungs for the facilitation of breathing. Further, the laboratory scientists at Sri Lanka Tea Board suggest, that frequent consumption of hot Black Tea (without sugar & milk) and inhaling the tea fumes is supportive of flushing viruses trapped in the throat and nasal area. This reaction helps in improving the immune capacity and inhibiting inflammation due to Catechins and Polyphenols contained in Black Tea. It should be mentioned here that consumption of Black Tea has not been proven medically as a treatment against the COVID 19 until extensive research studies are conducted with human trials.

In this connection, the Sri Lanka tea industry stakeholders have moved rapidly towards online meetings, lively discussions and working group sessions with the international clientele through virtual platforms such as Microsoft Teams and Zoom conferences. All promotional campaigns for Ceylon Tea for the future are being focused through digital and social media against the backdrop of a pandemic lockdown in many global destinations. Utilizing the power of social media applications such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, We chat etc through an identified panel of Influences, Bloggers, Authentic Opinion Makers and a few Celebrities Ceylon Tea clips, videos, messages, electronic banners etc are to be aired within the global campaign. It will be reinforced through search engines marketing availing Google, Yandex, Baidu and other effective digital media as per the respective countries of operation. This strategy is to be combined with other necessary upgrades on the supply chain mechanism.

Hasitha de Alwis Consultant

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Business

SLEIS 2026 to examine how Sri Lanka can strengthen its place in Asia’s growth networks

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Ambassador Akio ISOMATA / Chathuranga Abeysinghe / P.D. Singh

As Asia continues to account for a growing share of global economic activity, Sri Lanka faces an important opportunity to strengthen its links with regional trade networks, supply chains and economic corridors. How the country can make better use of these connections to attract investment, expand trade and strengthen its position in regional value chains will be among the key questions at the Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026, organised by The Ceylon Chamber of Commerce on 12-13 October 2026.

Titled “Linking Sri Lanka to Asia’s Growth Networks: Trade, Corridors, and Value Chains,” the session will examine the opportunities for Sri Lanka to deepen its integration with the wider Asian economy and build stronger connections with regional and global markets.

The session keynote will be delivered by P.D Singh – Chief Executive Officer, India and South Asia, Standard Chartered Bank. He will be joined for a panel discussion by Chathuranga Abeysinghe – Deputy Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Akio ISOMATA – Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, MASAAKI Kawabata – Chairman – Toyota Lanka (Private) Limited, and Ravi Jayawardena – Group Chief Executive Officer-Maliban Biscuits (Private) Limited. The session will be moderated by Ms. Subhashini Abeysinghe – Research Director- Verité Research.

For Sri Lanka, stronger regional integration can open opportunities beyond traditional export markets. Greater participation in regional supply chains, improved trade connectivity and closer links to economic corridors can support investment in areas such as logistics, manufacturing, export services and other sectors connected to international production networks.

The discussion will consider what Sri Lanka needs to do to strengthen its position within these networks, including improving trade connectivity, attracting investment and creating a business environment that enables companies to participate more effectively in regional and global value chains.

It will also look at the experience of businesses and international institutions operating across the region, providing perspectives on how companies assess markets, build supply chains and identify locations for investment. With supply chains and investment flows increasingly shaped by regional connectivity, the session will also consider the partnerships and strategies needed to position Sri Lanka as a more competitive participant in Asia’s growth networks, while creating opportunities for trade, investment, innovation and economic growth.

The session will form part of the second day of SLEIS 2026, held under the theme “Positioning Sri Lanka in a Changing Global Economy: Resilience, Reform, and the Future of Economic Policy.”

The Sri Lanka Economic & Investment Summit 2026 is supported by its valued sponsors and partners. Platinum Sponsor – Standard Chartered Bank Sri Lanka, Gold Sponsor – VISA Worldwide (Pvt) Ltd., Bronze Sponsor – South Asia Gateway Terminals (Pvt) Ltd., Strategic Development Partner – Asian Development Bank, Telecommunication Partner – Dialog Telecommunication, Television Partner – Dialog Television, Session Sponsors – David Pieris Motor Company (Pvt) Ltd., Hemas Holdings PLC, Sunshine Holdings PLC, International Construction Consortium (Pvt) Ltd., Official Logistics Partner – Hayleys Advantis Limited, Official Airline – SriLankan Airlines Ltd., Official Hospitality Partner – Shangri-La Colombo, Airline Partner – China Eastern Air Holding Co. Ltd.

Registrations are now open at https://sleis.chamber.lk/. For more information, contact Alikie on 011 558 8805 (alikie@chamber.lk) or Shanuka on 0701082541 (events.division@chamber.lk).

Business

AAC launches seat belt safety awareness initiative with RDA Colombo

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

The Automobile Association of Ceylon (AAC), in collaboration with the Road Development Authority (RDA) and Police – Traffic Division, will conduct a special Road Safety Awareness Programme to promote the importance of wearing seat belts in vehicles specially on the express highways in order to reduce road fatalities and serious injuries.

The official handing-over ceremony took place at the Chairman’s Office of the Road Development Authority on 14th September 2026, where specially designed Seat Belt Safety Hanging Tags & Stickers prepared by the Automobile Association of Ceylon were handed over to the RDA for distribution to motorists at entry points to the expressways.

The initiative is being conducted in connection with the seat belt law coming into effect on 19th September 2026 and is intended to create greater public awareness of the importance of wearing seat belts in both the front and rear seats of vehicles.

Representing the Automobile Association of Ceylon at the ceremony Dhammika Attygalle, President; Prasanna De Zoysa, Sectional Chairman – Road Safety; and Devapriya Hettiarachchi, Secretary, Senior Superintendent of Police -Traffic Sisira Peththrathanthri, participated in the programme.

The Automobile Association of Ceylon has consistently maintained that road safety is one of its foremost priorities. Through awareness campaigns, educational programmes and collaboration with government authorities and other stakeholders, the Association continues to encourage responsible driving and safer behaviour among all road users.

AAC believes that the proper use of seat belts, including by rear-seat passengers, is a simple but vital safety measure that can help reduce serious injuries and save lives in the event of a road crash.

The programme further strengthens the cooperation between the Automobile Association of Ceylon, the Road Development Authority and the Police in their shared commitment towards safer roads and saving lives in Sri Lanka.

Business

Sanath Jayasuriya as Brand Ambassador

Published

10 hours ago

2026/09/16

Sahan Weerasooriya

Mr. Dasun Wickramarathna, Chairman Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd with Sanath Jayasuriya, World Renown Personality & Brand Ambassador

Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd (GHR) has announced a landmark partnership with Sri Lankan cricket legend Sanath Jayasuriya, as its Brand Ambassador as GHR enters a new chapter in its journey within Sri Lanka’s luxury real estate sector.

The partnership was officially unveiled at a press conference held at Cinnamon Life, Colombo, on 14 September 2026, bringing together industry leaders, investors and members of the media under the theme “Two Gamechangers, A New Beginning.”

The collaboration brings together two names associated with challenging convention in their respective fields: Sanath Jayasuriya, whose fearless approach transformed the dynamics of international cricket, and GHR, which has sought to introduce new approaches to property investment and luxury living in Sri Lanka.

Over the past two decades, GHR has built its presence in Sri Lanka’s real estate sector with a focus on quality, structural integrity and long-term investment value.

A significant milestone in the company’s journey came in 2016, when GHR introduced the hotel residency concept to the Sri Lankan market. The model brought together luxury hospitality and real estate investment, creating opportunities for property ownership with the potential to generate investment returns while contributing to the growth of the country’s high-end tourism offering. GHR has since continued to expand its portfolio across key destinations in Sri Lanka.

Speaking at the announcement, Dasun Wickramarathna, Chairman of Global Housing & Real Estate (Pvt) Ltd, said, “For over twenty years, Global Housing & Real Estate has strived to push the boundaries of what property development can achieve in Sri Lanka. As pioneers who introduced the hotel residency concept back in 2016, our mission has always been clear: to provide high-yield investment opportunities for our clients while taking Sri Lanka’s condominium industry into a new frontier.”

Commenting on the decision to partner with Sanath Jayasuriya, he added, “When looking for a voice to represent GHR’s ethos, Sanath Jayasuriya was the natural choice. Just as Sanath disrupted traditional international cricket and redefined how the world viewed the opening overs, GHR challenged traditional approaches to real estate and established a new benchmark in luxury living. This partnership represents a true convergence; Two Gamechangers, A New Beginning.”