Ananda Kannangara (anandakannangara12@gmail.com)
The CESS fund of nearly Rs. 5 billion collected from Tea exporters to promote Ceylon Tea brand globally is left unutilized, said Anselm Perera, Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders Association.
“Tea industry is facing a crisis as prices have dropped and this is the time a globe promotion is urgently needed, he said speaking at the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA) Annual General Meeting in Colombo.
The funds had been used so far only to promote Ceylon tea using the Sri Lanka Cricket team and in the Dubai Airport advertising board. “We need more to be done.”
“Political problems in key markets like Russia and the Middle East had reduced demand for Sri Lankan tea. Russia is one of the largest single importers and the devaluation of the Russian Ruble by 70% has badly affected to our auction prices”
He said the country’s key export markets in the Middle East are in turmoil and Iran, Iraq and Libya are in conflict.
“Sri Lanka has seen a progressive decline in tea auction prices since the third quarter of 2014 but it was only for a short period.
Chairman Perera further said the tea trade is most skeptical about the decision to pay the small- holders who cultivate less than 10 acres of tea as they get a guaranteed price of Rs. 80 for green leaf.
“On the positive side, with the world population exceeding 7.3 billion within the next few years and continuing to grow rapidly, we would expect the consumption of tea to register an upward movement,”
He also said the Colombo Trade contributes US Dollars 1.6 billion to the national income and planned to improve this to four billion US Dollars in the next 3 to five years.
Talking about the global tea production, he said although Sri Lanka produced 338 million kilo of tea in 2014, the country still remains the fourth largest producer in the world with China, India and Kenya are ahead of us.
Chairman Perera finally said the country will celebrate the 150th year of Ceylon tea in 2007 and arrangements have been made to celebrate the event by conducting an Exhibition and an International Convention. “This exhibition will help to popularize our tea among countries,”.
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke observed on the Government’s new foreign policy, particularly with regard to the major buyers of Sri Lankan tea including USA, the European Union and also issues in relation to the Middle East, Russia and other CIS nations will open doors for our tea trade once again. Over 200 members of the CTTA attended the AGM to elect the new committee for the year 2015/2016.
www.dailynews.lk
The CESS fund of nearly Rs. 5 billion collected from Tea exporters to promote Ceylon Tea brand globally is left unutilized, said Anselm Perera, Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders Association.
“Tea industry is facing a crisis as prices have dropped and this is the time a globe promotion is urgently needed, he said speaking at the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association (CTTA) Annual General Meeting in Colombo.
The funds had been used so far only to promote Ceylon tea using the Sri Lanka Cricket team and in the Dubai Airport advertising board. “We need more to be done.”
“Political problems in key markets like Russia and the Middle East had reduced demand for Sri Lankan tea. Russia is one of the largest single importers and the devaluation of the Russian Ruble by 70% has badly affected to our auction prices”
He said the country’s key export markets in the Middle East are in turmoil and Iran, Iraq and Libya are in conflict.
“Sri Lanka has seen a progressive decline in tea auction prices since the third quarter of 2014 but it was only for a short period.
Chairman Perera further said the tea trade is most skeptical about the decision to pay the small- holders who cultivate less than 10 acres of tea as they get a guaranteed price of Rs. 80 for green leaf.
“On the positive side, with the world population exceeding 7.3 billion within the next few years and continuing to grow rapidly, we would expect the consumption of tea to register an upward movement,”
He also said the Colombo Trade contributes US Dollars 1.6 billion to the national income and planned to improve this to four billion US Dollars in the next 3 to five years.
Talking about the global tea production, he said although Sri Lanka produced 338 million kilo of tea in 2014, the country still remains the fourth largest producer in the world with China, India and Kenya are ahead of us.
Chairman Perera finally said the country will celebrate the 150th year of Ceylon tea in 2007 and arrangements have been made to celebrate the event by conducting an Exhibition and an International Convention. “This exhibition will help to popularize our tea among countries,”.
Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke observed on the Government’s new foreign policy, particularly with regard to the major buyers of Sri Lankan tea including USA, the European Union and also issues in relation to the Middle East, Russia and other CIS nations will open doors for our tea trade once again. Over 200 members of the CTTA attended the AGM to elect the new committee for the year 2015/2016.
www.dailynews.lk
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