Charity tea auction collects Rs. 7.2 m
Ramani KANGARAARACHCHI
The first ever Charity Tea Auction of the Ceylon Specialty Tea and
award ceremony in Sri Lanka held at the Chamber of Commerce Auditorium
on Wednesday collected an attractive Rs. 6.2 million within 25 minutes.
The auction was held towards the education of a tsunami hit village in
Kalutara district.
|
CEO Asia Siyaka Anil Cooke conducts the auction. Sarath
Sirisena and Ishan Fernando of Colombo Brokers Association
look on. Picture by Sumanachandra Ariyawansa |
Another US $ 10,000 donated by the Head of Ethical Tea partnership in
UK Norman Kelly made the total collection Rs. 7.2 million which will go
to ‘Back to school’. Project organised by the Colombo Rotract Club. A
kilo of tea from Lumbini estate Ruhuna was sold at Rs. 12,500 which
recorded the highest amount per kilo and the lowest price of a kilo sold
was Rs. 3,500.
The US Ambassador in Sri Lanka Robert Blake who was the chief guest
at the ceremony congratulating the winners said that the demand for
Ceylon Specialty Tea is growing fast not only in the US but also in the
EU countries.
Ceylon Specialty tea received an unprecedented boost in USA in last
June following a promotional venture organised by the industry
stakeholders along with Sri Lanka Tea Board at World Tea Expo event held
in Las Vegas. The winning teas from Sabaragamuwa was sold at Las Vegas
and the balance was sold in Sri Lanka. Winners and runner ups were
awarded certificates at the award ceremony after the auction. CEO Asia
Siyaka Commodities Anil Cooke conducted the historical auction. Chairman
Tea Board Lalith Hettiarachchi, President Chamber of Commerce
J.D.Bandaranaike and President Tea Traders Association Ravi de Silva
participated. |
