“The Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) hosted a  delegation of European Tea Growers as a part of an eight-day knowledge exchange programme on 23rd of March 2026 at SLTB premises.

The visit provided an engaging and comprehensive exploration of Ceylon Tea, featuring an insightful presentation by the Tea Promotions Division, a curated tea tasting session conducted by the Tea Tasting Unit, and an informative session led by the Ceylon Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA).

This programme is a collective commitment of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, the Embassy of Sri Lanka in the Netherlands, Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA), and Ceylon Artisanal Tea Association (CATA), providing a valuable platform to strengthen international ties with producers actively shaping the future of tea in Europe.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board successfully organized the National Ceylon Tea Pavilion at FOODEX Japan 2026, held from 10th to 13th March 2026 at Tokyo Big Sight, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s strong global presence in the premium tea sector.

Recognized as the largest food and beverage trade exhibition in the Asia-Pacific region, FOODEX Japan 2026 brought together approximately 2,930 exhibiting companies from over 74 countries and regions, attracting more than 76,000 professional trade visitors and buyers worldwide. The exhibition continues to serve as a strategic global platform for trade networking, market expansion, and industry innovation.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board Pavilion, covering 90 square metres with 10 individual booths, featured leading tea exporting companies representing the diversity and excellence of Pure Ceylon Tea:

• Nature Ceylon Trading (Pvt) Ltd
• Ceylon Royal Teas (Pvt) Ltd
• Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC
• Ceyem Commodities (Pvt) Ltd
• Kelani Valley Plantations PLC
• Expoteas Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd
• A.F. Jones Exporters Ceylon (Pvt) Ltd
• Meezan & Company (Pvt) Ltd
• Jafferjee Brothers
• Alfa Exports (Pvt) Ltd (SME Sector)

The Pavilion was officially inaugurated by His Excellency Prof. Pivithuru Janak Kumarasinghe, Ambassador of Sri Lanka to Japan, marking Sri Lanka’s continued commitment to strengthening bilateral trade relations and enhancing brand recognition in the Japanese and Asia-Pacific markets.

Throughout the four-day exhibition, the Pavilion attracted significant international attention, with visitors experiencing the unique aroma, taste, and heritage of Pure Ceylon Tea through live tastings and business engagements.

Participation at FOODEX Japan 2026 enabled Sri Lankan tea exporters to forge new partnerships, strengthen existing market linkages, and explore emerging opportunities in one of the world’s most sophisticated and quality-driven food markets.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board remains committed to promoting Ceylon Tea as a globally trusted premium beverage, supporting exporters in expanding their international footprint and sustaining Sri Lanka’s leadership in the global tea trade.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing showcased Ceylon Tea at the 2026 Lunar New Year International Cultural Year held in Beijing from 17–23 February 2026. The event provided a valuable platform to introduce Sri Lanka’s rich tea culture to Chinese consumers through tea tasting sessions, product displays, and direct engagement with visitors. Participating Sri Lankan companies promoted their brands and connected consumers to their official online stores on major Chinese e-commerce platforms, enabling continued purchases beyond the event. This consumer-focused festival significantly enhanced the visibility of Ceylon Tea among Beijing audiences while creating new commercial and promotional opportunities for Sri Lankan tea brands.

Under the Cultural Diplomacy Programme of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, Ceylon Tea was prominently promoted during the Chinese Lunar New Year 2026 celebrations attended by Chinese Government officials, the diplomatic corps, business leaders, and media representatives. As a core national brand of Sri Lanka, Ceylon Tea was showcased through a dedicated tasting session and highlighted for its premium quality and authenticity. The event, blending Chinese and Sri Lankan cultural performances, provided strong media visibility and reinforced the growing presence of Ceylon Tea in the China market.

Ceylon Tea was prominently showcased at Sri Lanka’s 78^th Independence Day Diplomatic Reception held on 05 February 2026 in Beijing, attended by diplomats, senior Chinese officials, and business leaders. The event was organized by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing

A special Ceylon Tea tasting session featured teas from Sri Lanka’s seven agro-climatic regions, emphasizing the brand’s premium quality and distinct flavours. Premium Ceylon Tea  export brand Basilur Tea was also featured, with gift packs presented to distinguished guests, further enhancing brand visibility in the Chinese market.

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, in collaboration with Capital Airlines, successfully promoted Ceylon Tea during the inaugural Beijing–Colombo flight departure on 31 January 2026 at Beijing Daxing International Airport. The initiative included passenger tea giveaways, onboard service of Ceylon Tea for Business and Economy Class, a dedicated airport promotional counter, and coordinated media coverage. Conducted entirely free of charge, the campaign strengthened the visibility of Ceylon Tea while reinforcing Sri Lanka’s tourism appeal and national brand presence among Chinese travelers and industry stakeholders.

Tour operators and business leaders experienced authentic Ceylon Tea through curated tastings highlighting Sri Lanka’s agro-climatic diversity. Tea sampling, paired with Sri Lankan biscuits, reinforced the premium positioning of Ceylon Tea. Promotional videos showcased Sri Lanka’s tea heritage, sustainability practices, and tourism appeal. The event received strong media coverage, enhancing the visibility of Ceylon Tea among tourism and aviation stakeholders in China.

Ceylon Tea took center stage at the launch of Capital Airlines’ Beijing–Colombo route held at the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing on 08 January 2026. Guests were welcomed with authentic Ceylon Tea, reinforcing Sri Lanka’s premium tea heritage and national brand. The event linked tourism promotion with tea diplomacy, highlighting Ceylon Tea as an integral symbol of Sri Lanka. Wide Chinese media coverage further enhanced the visibility of Ceylon Tea in the Chinese market.

The Tea Promotion Unit of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing organized to promote Ceylon Tea at the 6^th Tea House Industry Conference 2025, an annual NGO-organized event held in Beijing on 28 December 2025, which brought together tea house operators and key industry stakeholders from across China.

This free-of-cost promotional opportunity, enabled the TPU coupled with Sinolan Tea (Pvt) Ltd., a private sector tea company based in Beijing  to showcase the heritage, quality, and unique characteristics of Ceylon Tea, further strengthening its visibility and brand presence in the Chinese market.

For 50 years, the Sri Lanka Tea Board has stood as the proud custodian of the world’s finest tea.

The story of the Sri Lanka Tea Board is the story of Sri Lanka itself—resilient, fragrant, and world-class. For 50 years, we have worked behind the scenes to ensure that every sip of Ceylon Tea carries the authentic taste of our soil and the warmth of our people.

On this Golden Jubilee, we thank our stakeholders and global partners for five decades of trust. Together, we continue to brew a sustainable future for the “Green Gold” of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka Tea Board

A Legacy of Purity, A Future of Excellence.

Ceylon Tea showcased Sri Lanka’s premium tea heritage at the 2025 Asia (Beijing) International Food Expo held from 12–14 December 2025 in Beijing, reaching a wide Chinese audience. The presence featured leading Sri Lankan tea brands Lions Tea, Ceylon Tips, and Hidden Hills Artisanal Tea, promoting both the national Ceylon Tea identity and distinctive private brands. The no-cost promotional arrangement delivered strong visibility among consumers, buyers, and online platforms, further enhancing the premium image and recognition of Ceylon Tea in the Chinese market.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board today affirmed the industry’s exceptional resilience and swift return to operational stability following the severe disruptions caused by Cyclone Ditwa across the Central and Uva Provinces. While the storm inflicted considerable damage to infrastructure and tragically impacted our workforce, the collective response from growers, manufacturers, and exporters has ensured that the backbone of the Ceylon Tea production chain remains intact. The industry is operating under a coordinated national recovery strategy, focused on supporting affected communities and maintaining global supply.

Crucially, we can confirm that other than a few isolated incidence there have been no reported loss of permanent factory or manufacturing capacity within the Ceylon Tea sector. Despite initial projections of a significant drop in production due to temporary labor shortages and weather severity, most of our factories were not affected. The immediate focus on securing and restoring these manufacturing centers paid off, allowing the processing of green leaf to stabilize as estate workers gradually returned to work with the swift restoration of accessibility across the affected regions.

The logistical challenge posed by damaged regional roads is being addressed with priority. Key arteries connecting plantations to the city and transport hubs are being diligently reopened, ensuring the continuous flow of green leaf to processing centers and finished tea to warehouses. Furthermore, to safeguard the vital liquidity of the entire supply chain, including the smallholders. The Colombo Tea Auction schedule has been swiftly and strategically adjusted, guaranteeing uninterrupted financial support and market momentum for our producers.

However, the primary hurdle to a full restoration of export capacity lies in the damage sustained in specialized post-processing and packaging machinery.  Most of the tea companies have taken precautionary measures to protect their equipment/machinery to minimize the potential damage with timely relocation. The industry stakeholders are prioritizing the repair and restoration of these machinery and equipment. This issue is being addressed with urgency to mitigate any long-term delays in delivering value-added Ceylon Tea. Stakeholders across the industry have joined hands to ensure the supply chain remains uninterrupted.

The global reputation of Ceylon Tea is founded on unwavering quality and the spirit of its people. We commend the Central Bank and government stakeholders for their rapid deployment of temporary debt relief and financial support measures. We assure all international partners and consumers that every measure is being taken to ensure consistent supply and quality. The industry has weathered far greater storms, and our current collective effort demonstrates our confidence in emerging from this challenge stronger, ensuring Ceylon Tea remains a reliable pillar of the global market.

Sri Lanka Tea Board

574, Galle Road, Colombo 03.

12.12.2025