THE CTTA CHAIRMAN’S BRIEFING AT THE MEDIA CONFERENCE ON THE SESQUICENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS OF CEYLON TEA

The Tea Industry of Sri Lanka will celebrate its 150^th Anniversary in 2017. The commercial cultivation of tea commenced in 1867, fortuitously supplanting coffee, which, till then, was the country’s main cash crop, shortly thereafter devastated by a ravaging plant blight. It was pioneered by a Scotsman named James Taylor, who is reputed to have developed the first commercial plantation in the country and was responsible for initiating the first formal manufacturing process of Ceylon Tea on Loolcondera Estate, Hewaheta.

For over one hundred years, the Tea Industry sustained the economy of this country and continues to contribute significantly to it. It is still one of the highest foreign exchange earners for the country, contributing around US Dollars 1.5 billion per annum. It also supports approximately 20 percent of the country’s population, through direct and indirect employment, out-sourcing and dependent families, which extends to a number of ancillary industries, such as shipping, transportation, printing, packaging, etc.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board, in collaboration with the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association, is organizing a number of celebratory events to coincide with this Sesquicentennial Anniversary, throughout the year 2017. I shall briefly take you through the programme of events that has been planned to commemorate this historic anniversary.

• The celebrations will commence, at the Head Office of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, on January 19, 2017, with the unveiling of a sculptured bust of James Taylor, who is acknowledged as ‘The Father of the Tea Industry’ in our country..
• A first day cover and a series of stamps will be issued in February 2017, followed by the release of a Rs.10/- coin by the month of August, to commemorate this anniversary.
• Over the months of March to July, a series of Education Fairs will be conducted in all seven tea producing regions, to serve as an outreach to the local community in an endeavour to infuse a better understanding of the relevance and importance of the Tea Industry to the country and its career opportunities and to create an awareness of the significance of this historic event.
• An unique ‘Global Ceylon Tea Party’, hosted by the country’s Diplomatic Missions worldwide, will be held on May 18, at 5.00 p.m. in each time-zone around the world, serving fine Ceylon Teas and a specially created biscuit for the occasion by Maliban Biscuit Manufactories, the oldest biscuit manufacturer in Sri Lanka. Everyone associated with the Tea Trade in those countries will be invited. Many of our Embassies and Consulates have shown great enthusiasm in organizing this event, with special programmes featuring the culture of our country.
• The publication of a Commemorative Book, an authentic historical record of ‘The 150 Years of Ceylon Tea’, will be launched on June 14, 2017.
• A ‘Grand Charity Tea Auction’ will be held on June 14, 2017. The eight Tea Broking Companies will each auction six items uniquely associated with the legendary Colombo Tea Auctions for sale as Limited Editions, specially crafted for the event. The following five items will be craft6ed in Sterling Silver:

1) A miniature replica, mounted on a timber base, of the first mechanical Tea Roller, called the “Little Giant”, manufactured in 1889, used in the manufacturing process of tea. It is believed to be the only one of its kind in existence. It was found abandoned and was retrieved, authentically restored to working condition and is now on display at the TeaMuseum in Hantane, Kandy

2) A miniature replica, mounted on a timber base, of the sculptured bust of James Taylor, which will be unveiled at the Head Office of the Sri Lanka Tea Board, on January 19, 2017, inaugurating the celebration of the 150^th Anniversary of the Ceylon Tea Industry.

3) A replica of a Gavel, which is a small ceremonial mallet, usually made of hardwood, used by the Presiding Auctioneer on the rostrum at the Tea Auction, by striking it on the block to signify the conclusion of the sale transaction of each invoice of Tea on offer.  

4)A replica of a set of traditional utensils used in the tasting and evaluation of teas, comprising a tasting cup, an infusing jug with a lid, all usually crafted in ceramic or porcelain, a tasting spoon and a 4 minute sand timer.

5) A replica of a Traditional Weighing Scale used in the process of uniformly brewing representative samples of tea for the purpose of tasting and evaluation.  The scales used by the Tea Trade are usually crafted in copper, with a small coin-like object, also in copper, weighing exactly 3 gms, attached to one pan, while the dry tea leaves are placed in the other, ensuring that each cup of tea brewed for purposes of comparison and evaluation are subject to consistent parameters.

The sixth item will be the Pièce De Résistance and will take the form of a Casket crafted in Sterling Silver and Wood and tastefully studded with Ceylon Precious Gemstones, containing 500 grammes of finest Ceylon Tea. The Buyer of each casket will also receive from the particular Selling Broker 5 kgs of the best quality Ceylon Black Tea representing one of the seven distinctive Agro-climatic tea growing regions of the country, or a fine Ceylon Green Tea.

Participation at the Auction will be by invitation. However, attendance at this event will be open to all members of the Tea Industry.

The entire proceeds of the Auction will be utilized for two judiciously selected Charity Projects to be conducted in the high and low elevation tea growing areas, for the exclusive benefit of the children of plantation workers.

• During the month of July, an International Tea Festival, to promote amongst Tourists and Sri Lankans the uniqueness of Ceylon Tea and the tea culture, through a festive atmosphere, will be held, with a focus on street events, featuring Tea stalls, food stalls and entertainment, including performances depicting tea related activities. It is intended that this will become an annual event in the future.

• An International Colombo Tea Convention will be held from August 8 to 11, 2017, and approximately 300 overseas delegates are expected to participate, apart from significant local participation. Erudite presentations will be delivered by eminent personalities in the Global Tea Trade and the International Business Arena, both from overseas and Sri Lanka, with expertise and experience in a wide spectrum of relevant disciplines, setting the tone for stimulating discussions and sharing of diverse views, with competent moderators regulating the different sessions.

• An Award Ceremony to recognize stakeholders in the Tea Industry, encompassing all sectors in every region, ranging from the Best Tea Plucker, Tea Taster and Tea Blender to the Best Manufacturer and the most Creative Innovator, etc.
• A Programme will be initiated to upgrade the CeylonTeaMuseum, which is of great relevance to the history of the Industry.
• A Ceylon Tea Expo Exhibition will be held from August 11 to 13, to enable Exporters, Manufactures, Producers and Service Providers in the Tea Industry, both local and international, to showcase their products and services.

The Honourable Minister of Plantation Industries will now address you on this momentous event, following which we will be prepared to field any questions you may have regarding it.