Over 37 Sri Lanka Missions abroad celebrated the 150th anniversary of Ceylon tea this month in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association under the aegis of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The globally known Ceylon tea first originated in Sri Lanka since the introduction of tea cultivation in 1867 by Scotsman named “James Tailor” who is known as the “Father of Tea”. With the passage of time, tea from Ceylon became a well-known name among the tea connoisseurs around the world. Sri Lanka’s unique tropical environment provides an ideal nursery for the tea plant with the abundance of rain. Particularly the black tea originated from Sri Lanka has earned a global reputation.

Sri Lanka’s tea has been recognized as an environmental friendly organic product as the tea industry in the country adheres to important global environment conventions and protocols including the Montreal Protocol to protect the Ozone Layer. Also Sri Lanka’s recognition in banning child labour in accordance with the FAO standards has been a positive factor to reach foreign tea markets.

Recent researches revealed that nearly 70% of the tea production in Sri Lanka comes from small scale farmers, and the production from large scale estates which were commenced during the colonial time are on the decline.

The concept of “Global Ceylon Tea Party” attracts many tea lovers in major cities hosted by the Sri Lankan Missions and some of the photographs here show this year’s global tea parties.