In a landmark move set to redefine the future of one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic exports, global consumer giant Unilever has joined forces with the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Community Infrastructure to implement a sweeping standardization drive aimed at protecting and upgrading the Ceylon Tea brand on the international stage.
Renowned worldwide for its distinctive taste, aroma, and purity, Ceylon Tea remains a crown jewel of Sri Lanka’s export economy. Yet, in an increasingly competitive global market and amid a complex international distribution web—ensuring the consistency, quality, and sustainability of Sri Lanka’s tea has become more critical than ever.
In response, the Tea Development and Plantation Policy Division under the Ministry is spearheading a comprehensive initiative to introduce standardized benchmarks that will preserve the integrity of Ceylon Tea, reinforce its global image, and guarantee its natural origins. These efforts aim to give Sri Lanka a clear edge in the global tea export industry while injecting greater economic value into the national coffers.
The ambitious five-year roadmap aims to boost Sri Lanka’s total tea production to 400 million kilograms and increase revenue from tea exports to USD 2.5 billion. To achieve this, the relevant policy framework has already been developed in collaboration with key public and private stakeholders. The final strategic implementation plan is now being refined with broad participation, ensuring a truly inclusive and sustainable reform process.
A crucial component of this national strategy is the development of rigorous specifications for tea production standards designed to meet international expectations while supporting local innovation. These specifications will emphasize five core principles:
- Nationally recognized sustainable cultivation standards
- Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)
- Regenerative farming systems
- Cultivation practices that avoid forest degradation
- Zero-carbon industrial production techniques
The private sector is expected to play a pivotal role in implementing these standards, and Unilever has stepped up as a primary partner. The company signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry nearly a year ago, formalizing its commitment to supporting the initiative. On Friday, May 16, a high-level progress review was held at the Ministry’s offices to assess the current status and outline next steps.
Present at the meeting were:
- Mr. Prabath Chandrakeerthi, Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Community Infrastructure
- Ms. Tharangani Wickramasinghe, Additional Secretary of the Tea Development and Plantation Policy Division
- Mr. Raj Obeysekara, Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board
- Mr. Nimal Udugampala, Chairman of the Small Tea Estates Development Authority
- A senior delegation from Pepsi Lipton International including Ms. Olena Borodina (Global Brand/Sustainability Manager), Mr. James McKay (Global Technical and Sustainability Director), and Mr. Sean McCarthy (Global Supply Planner)
- Ms. Anusha Kotalawala, Head of the SL Ceytea Instant Tea Factory
- Senior officials from the Ministry and related agencies
The meeting focused on assessing the current implementation progress of the tea standardization strategy and identifying critical next steps to fast-track its nationwide rollout. Stakeholders emphasized the importance of long-term industry commitment and multi-sector coordination to ensure the transformation of Sri Lanka’s tea industry from a traditional export model to a globally competitive, sustainability-driven brand powerhouse.
Unilever’s involvement is seen as a major confidence boost for the initiative. With its global reach, technical expertise, and established presence in the beverage market, the company is positioned to amplify Ceylon Tea’s international visibility while helping enforce the quality standards needed to meet global expectations.
This public-private partnership is more than just a policy overhaul, it is a statement of intent. Sri Lanka is moving decisively to reclaim its position as the world’s premier tea-producing nation, and this transformation is being built not just on heritage, but on hard science, environmental accountability, and international collaboration.
With the backing of global leaders like Unilever and a government-wide push for reform, Ceylon Tea is not just preserving its legacy, it’s preparing to dominate the future.
This is not going to work. Take the tea-palate of the ordinary British person … it is for a harsh, black, bitter, strong tea. The vast majority of that is serviced by brands sourcing from Africa (Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda) and India.
The subtle, multi-facted Sri Lankan teas just don’t get a look-in because people expect something strong and cheap.
Sri Lankan teas will have a niche premium market but will not make inroads into western volume sales.