New Vithanakanda Tea Factory CEO returns after record-breaking sale

By T.K.G. Kapila

Colombo, October 1 (Daily Mirror) - The FF Extra Special Black Tea, presented by the New Vithanakanda Tea Factory and recognized by the Guinness World Records as the most valuable and expensive tea in the world, was successfully sold at an international auction. CEO Pubudu Gunasekara, who participated in the auction, arrived at Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) this morning.

The auction was part of the "Ceylon Specialty Tea" competition organized by the Sri Lanka Tea Board every three years. Sri Lanka is divided into seven Agro-Climatic Districts, with one winning tea producer selected from each region. These winners were sent to the tea auction held in Osaka, Japan, on 09/26.

The event was jointly organized by the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Japan Tea Merchants Association in conjunction with Expo 2025 International Exhibition in Japan, attracting 70 international buyers.

The black tea from the Sabaragamuwa region, presented by New Vithanakanda Tea Factory, was purchased by Janat Paris International Company for 125,000 Japanese Yen (approximately 255,000 Sri Lankan Rupees) per kilogram — the highest price ever recorded for tea worldwide.

All proceeds from the auction will be directed towards the education of children of tea estate workers in Sri Lanka.

The New Vithanakanda Tea Factory board and a group of senior officials from the Tea Brokers Association were present to receive the team at Katunayake Airport.