Hon. (Dr.) Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Plantation Industries attended the special celebration event for International Tea Day on 21st May at the Headquarters of Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy representing Sri Lanka.

Agents representing all tea manufacturing countries gathered there at this Summit headed by Dr. QU Dongyu, Director General of FAO. The major attention of this summit was brought toward the small-scale tea estate holders and the potential of helping them to face the challenges was discussed. The Minister addressed the Summit by making the attendees aware of the contribution of small-scale tea estate holders in tea manufacturing process in Sri Lanka, stabilizing their economy, the plantation labourers’ community rendering a greater service for the tea industry and how to act for uplifting their socio-economic livelihood.

To coincide with this event, there was a tea-oriented exhibition at Atrium in the HQ of FAO with participation of the United Nations Women’s Guild (UNWG) and a tea tasting event was also organized. Its main objective was to make the viewers aware of the major tasks carried out by the said Division for small-scale tea estate holders and rural livelihood and, its contribution for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

This celebration remarked the deep cultural heritage of tea as an ancient symbol of good life standards and a dialogue was initiated in the society at global level through a tea culture regarding the women’s contribution via tea value chain with the involvement of UNWG.