News & market updates

Tea Avenue announced entry into India via a partnership with FranGlobal and aims to build more than 200 global outlets by 2035, starting in Delhi, Mumbai and Bangalore within 12–18 months. The rollout will use a FOFO franchise model and include a retail line of premium tea merchandise.

The Sri Lanka Export Development Board met the Palestinian Ambassador to promote bilateral trade and expand market access for Sri Lankan exports — highlighting Ceylon tea, rubber, coconut products, spices, processed foods and Ayurveda/personal care — and proposed online awareness sessions and business delegations.

Empire Teas hosted its international partners in Sri Lanka to mark its 25th anniversary, including visits to its head office, blending and packaging facilities, tea gardens and a final gala in Colombo. Long-standing buyers from multiple countries praised the company's consistency in quality and supply.

SLINTEC’s Advanced Analytical Services Laboratory received ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from SLAB, enabling accredited aflatoxin, phthalate and nutritional testing for export markets. The move aims to help Sri Lankan agri-food producers meet international standards and reduce shipment rejections for tea, spices and food products.

Transport Minister Bimal Rathnayake said raising wages for estate workers is a significant challenge and that the Plantation Industries and Finance Ministries are working to increase pay but have not yet been able to do so; he hopes the issue can be resolved in the coming months.

SLINTEC's Advanced Analytical Services Laboratory received ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation from SLAB, enabling accredited local testing for aflatoxins, phthalates and nutritional analysis to help Sri Lankan food, tea and spice exporters meet international standards.

Darshana Gunasekera has been appointed an Independent, Non-Executive Director of Bank of Ceylon effective 13 August 2025. He is currently Group Finance Director of the MJF Group and serves on the boards of Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company, Kahawatte Plantations and Talawakelle Tea Estates.

Brown & Company PLC (BRWN.N0000) won the Silver Award in the Trading Category at the National Business Excellence Awards 2025. The recognition cites the group's governance, strategic leadership and operational excellence and coincides with its 150th anniversary.

Sri Lanka's central bank reported paddy and coconut production rose in June while tea, fish and rubber production fell; paddy Yala production is forecast at 2.19 million tonnes (up 10.8% year‑on‑year) and 2025 paddy production is forecast at 4.8 million tonnes (up 2.3%).

US tariff uncertainty between April and July 2025 disrupted Sri Lankan export orders and hit non-apparel exporters hardest (tea, rubber, spices, essential oils), CSF says in an August 2025 survey of 37 firms. Apparel firms reported fewer cancellations, though SMEs faced postponements and high uncertainty.

Sadaharitha Plantations Limited marks its 23rd anniversary and says it has surpassed a USD 1.05 billion asset base, the first Sri Lankan commercial forestry management company to do so. It reports LKR 214 billion net asset value, over 50,000 investors, operations in the UK and Madagascar, and proprietary SP Tech for agarwood inoculation.

The EDB held a strategic meeting with 15 newly appointed diplomatic representatives to strengthen Sri Lanka's export capabilities and market penetration. Appointments span Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas and target exporters of tea, textiles, spices, IT services, pharmaceuticals and value-added manufacturing.

Sri Lanka's Export Development Council of Ministers discussed entering new tariff agreements and other measures to help achieve the government's export target of USD 36 billion by 2030 (from USD 16.17 billion last year). Areas highlighted included gems and jewellery, pharmaceuticals, poultry, tea, spices, electronics, an export hub and Trincomalee Port development.

Cabinet approved inviting expressions of interest for private investment to develop underutilised state lands owned by agencies including LRC, Divisional Plantation Companies, NLDB, SLSP and JEDB, targeting plantation, tourism, livestock, renewable energy, industrial and fisheries projects.

Cabinet approved continuation of the Sri Lanka Tea Board's 50% trade exhibition subsidy, covering half the costs for exporters to promote the Ceylon Tea brand. The scheme, in operation since 2015, aims to expand global exposure and help exporters secure new international buyers.

Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC (SDF.N0000) installed the first ATM at the Tea Research Institute in Thalawakale, providing formal banking access to over 5,000 tea estate families. The ATM enables local cash withdrawals, account services and broader digital financial inclusion for estate workers.

Sarvodaya Development Finance PLC installed the first ATM at the Tea Research Institute in Thalawakale, providing formal banking access to over 5,000 tea estate families. The ATM aims to improve financial inclusion, reduce travel/time costs, and support digital transactions for estate communities.

The EDB held a strategic meeting with 15 newly appointed diplomatic representatives to strengthen Sri Lanka's export capabilities and market penetration across Asia, Europe, Africa, the Middle East and the Americas. Appointments cover ambassadors, high commissioners and consuls in major economic centers to boost exports of tea, textiles, spices, IT services, pharmaceuticals and value-added manufacturing.

National tea sales average rose month-on-month to Rs. 1,127.60 in July 2025 (up Rs. 24.33) but was down Rs. 96.28 year-on-year versus July 2024. The Jan–Jul cumulative average is down Rs. 105.50 YoY amid weak global demand, exchange-rate volatility and competition.

Colombo Stock Exchange ASPI rose 0.11% to 19,826.57 with turnover of 3.2 billion rupees, led by diversified financials. Top movers included Colombo Fort Land & Building, Melstacorp and Agarapatana Plantations (up), while Dipped Products fell and Teejay Lanka rose.

Malwatte Valley Plantations' Uva Highlands Estate achieved an all-time record price of Rs. 3,700 per kg for BOP grade tea at the Forbes & Walker auctions held on 4–5 August. The estate in Uva district, managed by Malwatte Valley Plantations, is ISO 22000/HACCP and Rainforest Alliance certified.

Sanken Overseas (Pvt) Ltd has made a strategic investment in CL Synergy Limited via a private placement, and a Sanken executive will join the CL Synergy board as the logistics group seeks to scale domestically and internationally. CL Synergy had pursued a Main Board listing but opted for private funding amid turbulent conditions.

Empire Teas will mark its 25th anniversary from 7–9 August in Sri Lanka with global business partners, plantation tours and a gala; the exporter delivers over 14 million kg of Ceylon tea annually to more than 70 countries.

Anverally and Sons secured ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation for its in-house laboratory, valid until March 2029, covering chemical testing of black and green tea and biological testing for teas, beverages and water. The lab will initially serve in-house needs with plans to offer third-party testing in future.

Sunshine Holdings PLC reported 1QFY26 consolidated revenue of Rs. 15.9 billion (+11.6% YoY) and PAT of Rs. 1.7 billion (+20.6% YoY). Healthcare was the largest contributor (54.2%); agribusiness via Watawala Plantations posted 20.7% revenue growth with an expanded EBIT margin of 48.8%.

Kelani Valley Plantations PLC appointed Senaka Bandara Alawattegama as its new Executive Director/CEO, succeeding Anura Weerakoon who retired; Alawattegama has over 40 years' experience in the plantation sector.

Nishantha Abeysinghe has been appointed Executive Director/CEO of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC. He succeeds Senaka Alawattegama, who has become Executive Director/CEO at Kelani Valley Plantations PLC.

Empire Teas will mark its 25th anniversary by hosting global business partners in Sri Lanka from 7–9 August. The company, cited as one of Sri Lanka’s top five tea exporters, delivers over 14 million kilos of Ceylon tea annually to more than 70 countries and has operations in Kenya, China, Spain and the Netherlands.

Asia Siyaka Commodities’ Managing Director Anil Randolph Cooke was named an Honorary Member of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association at its 131st AGM on 25 July. Cooke, co‑founder of Asia Siyaka, has led CTTA initiatives including the move to electronic auctions and the Ceylon Tea Road Map 2030.