Rs. 5b fund to promote Ceylon Tea

by Ananda AGALAKADA

The Plantation Industries Ministry is setting up a five billion rupee fund to promote Sri Lankan tea worldwide.

Minister of Plantation Industries Mahinda Samarasinghe said the program aims to popularise the Ceylon Tea brand globally. It will promote awareness among consumers on Lankan tea and will also include many other promotional activities.

Already Rs 2.5 billion has been collected with the help of tea exporters, the Minister said. Speaking of plans to further develop the industry, he said tea exports presently fetch around Rs.1.5 billion annually in foreign revenue and the Government intends to increase this to Rs.3-4 billion in the future. Tea currently accounts for 24 percent of Sri Lanka's income.

The Minister said that tea directly or indirectly helps a large number of people earn an income.

There are more than 400,000 tea smallholders in the country who account for 76 percent of the national tea output. In addition, more than 150,000 people work in large-scale tea estates.