500 ‘Ceylon Tea Villages’ programme launched to boost tea industry

Colombo, July 16 (Daily Mirror) - The Plantations and Community Infrastructure Ministry yesterday (15) launched the national programme to establish 500 “Ceylon Tea Villages” as part of efforts to achieve Sri Lanka’s target of increasing finished tea production to 400 million kilograms and tea export earnings to US$ 2.5 billion by 2030.

The inaugural event was held in front of the Hapugasthalawa Tank in Halgolla Village, Kotmale Divisional Secretariat Division, Nuwara Eliya District.

The programme aims to modernise Sri Lanka’s small tea estate sector, improve the livelihoods of tea farmers and promote sustainable development within the tea industry.

Under the first phase, 144 tea villages will be established in 2026, covering all 144 Tea Inspection Divisions across the country.

The event was attended by Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyaratne, Deputy Minister of Rural Development and Social Security Wasantha Piyatissa, Nuwara Eliya District parliamentarians, senior ministry officials and representatives from institutions including the Small Tea Estates Development Authority, Sri Lanka Tea Board, Tea Research Institute, State Plantations Corporation and Janatha Estates Development Board.