9 April 2020 01:03 am
Moray Estate set an all-time record at the Colombo Tea Auction on April 4, 2020, with the sale of its BOPF grade of tea for Rs.1300 per kilogramme.
This line of quality tea, which was sold by Eastern Brokers Limited, was purchased by Maskeliya Tea Gardens (Private) Limited, after active bidding by many buyers at the recently concluded historic first-ever ‘online’ tea auction in Sri Lanka.
The Colombo Tea Auction, which is the largest single tea auction centre in the world, has for over 135 years sold the island’s teas in traditional fashion, using the public outcry auction method. It has now switched over to an e-platform, conducting its first-ever online tea auction, breaking with tradition, in an effort to contain the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic that is ravaging the world.
Moray Estate is uniquely and picturesquely located in the agro climatic district of Maskeliya in the western highlands, famed for the high quality of its teas that is evident throughout most months of the year and particularly in the seasonal period from December to April each year, when ideal weather conditions conducive for the production of the best seasonal quality western teas prevail.
The estate nestles at the foothills of the legendary Adams Peak mountain, also referred to as ‘Sri Pada’ and was established in the year 1922. Its factory, with its commanding view overlooking the Mousakellie reservoir, was also built in the same year 1922, with L.B. Wilson being its first superintendent. The estate now comes under the stewardship of Dinu Abeykoon, who has been responsible for the continued success of Moray Estate in recent times.
The estate is ISO 22000 and Rain Forest Alliance certified and has an annual production of 700,000 kilogrammes of tea.
Moray Estate is managed by Maskeliya Plantations PLC, which is part of Richard Pieris Group of Companies and is spearheaded by its CEO/MD Manoj Pathiraja, whose experience, commitment and leadership have been the cornerstone of the company’s success.