PM’s committee to examine tea blending
The Government has appointed a committee to study the impact of blending tea for re-export from Sri Lanka, a controversial issue that has dogged the industry for many years due to opposing views.
The committee has been appointed by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and would be headed by the National Policies and Economic Affairs Ministry Secretary M.I.M. Rafeek. This stakeholder committee would look at developing a national policy on the aspect of tea blending in Sri Lanka.
However, the government is looking at this cautiously as it should not compromise the Ceylon Tea brand, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda explained to the Business Times.
Also a member of the committee, Mr. Pethiyagoda said that the committee was appointed a few weeks ago and is likely to meet for the first time in early November.
The mandate of the committee is to advise the government on whether blending tea in Sri Lanka could be allowed and if so on what conditions the import of such teas and blending for re-export could be carried out, he said.
Industry stakeholders would be consulted at every level, it was noted and a comprehensive advisory document would thereafter be submitted to the PM who has also cautioned that there should be no negative impact to the industry whatsoever. Some top exporters like Dilmah have urged against Colombo becoming a blending hub saying it would dilute the Ceylon Tea brand.
Dilmah founder Merril J. Fernando recently urged the authorities to set up a special Tea Authority which will work out a 5-year plan to revive tea and establish a meaningful marketing plan to take Ceylon Tea back to all “previously Ceylon Tea dominated nations and take control of all existing institutions geared to the interests of tea (the same can be replicated for rubber and coconut industries among others)”.