SLTB planning to add value to waste tea

Channa Kasturisinghe

TEA: Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) is planning to introduce modern technology to the Sri Lankan tea industry to produce tea powder using tea waste.

The SLTB which is under the Ministry of Plantation Industries has already had discussions with an Indian company to set up factories in Sri Lanka to produce finished instant tea using tea waste.

Working Director of SLTB, Darshana Pilimatalawa told the Daily News that there are several abandoned tea factories in Sri Lanka in which this technology can be installed.

"We will initially carry out a pilot project in Sri Lanka. S.S Techno Services Pvt. Ltd. from India which has the expertise in this technology has already had discussions with the Minister of Plantation Industries Milroy Fernando and top ministry officials.

"We expect to finalise the project soon," Pilimatalawa said. He said the introduction of this new technology will further boost the local tea industry.

"This kind of innovation should be promoted with the maximum support of the private sector. It has been proved in India that such investments can give high returns in a very short period of time," Pilimatalawa said.

S. Khatav, the Managing Director of S.S. Techno Ltd. said that his company supplies innovative turnkey systems in the field of evaporation and drying.

"We execute our projects from the Concept to Commissioning basis. We posses an experienced pool of technical engineering talent and supporting staff.

"We have had fruitful meetings with the Plantation Ministry of Sri Lanka and are ready to commence the project as soon as possible," he said.