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The Sri Lanka Tea Board-organised High Tea event held this week spotlighted on the tea ceremony unique to the island nation in all its regal splendour and taste.
Dancers along with damsels bearing incense sticks made way for the Nuwara Eliya and Dimbula teas to be served with local delicacies “lavariya” and “vadai” brought under the shade of large decorative parasols showcasing the uniqueness of Ceylon Tea at this High Tea event held to mark International Tea Day that was commemorated on May 21.
Plantation Minister Mahinda Amaraweera, State Minister for Plantation Industries Lohan Ratwatte and State Minister of Foreign Affairs Tharaka Balasuriya were present on the occasion.
Minister Amaraweera said at the event that this year highlights the women in the tea industry and that a large portion of the workforce in the tea fields comprises women.
He pointed out that Asia is one of the largest producers and consumers of tea in the world and as such this has been recognised as a national beverage by the United Nations as well.
Sri Lanka’s foreign exchange revenue of US$1.3 billion is generated by the tea industry which is currently one of the largest income earners to the country, the minister said.
Sri Lanka currently produces 5 per cent of the global tea employing two million people selling Orthodox Black Tea, CTC Black Tea and Green Tea to some of its top four buyers namely Iraq, Turkey, Russia and the UAE, SLTB Chairman Niraj De Mel said at the event.
State Minister Ratwatte called on the international community present at the event to help the women on the plantations to be more empowered. He commended the international community’s assistance towards Sri Lanka during the time of crisis and throughout the years.
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