The Government of Sri Lanka plans to setup tea promotion centers in foreign soil.

Sunil C. Perera, Reporting from Colombo – Thursday, March 02, 2006 Local tea trade will receive an immense boost after launching several projects initiated by the Ministry of Plantation industries.

These projects have been initiated under the concept of President Mahinda Rajapaksha to improve the local economy and boost foreign earnings.

According to the ministry of plantation, the Tea Board, Tea Research Institute, Tea Small Holder Development Authority and other affiliated agencies would lead these projects.

According to the plans ,the Ministry of Plantation Industries and the Sri Lanka Tea Board have planned to setup Tea promotion centers in three countries.

Minister Milroy Fernando said that three foreign investors have joined the Government of Sri Lanka to setup these joint centers to popularize Ceylon tea in these markets.

Addressing media in Colombo on Thursday, the Minister said that Ceylon Tea would be promoted to acquire biggest market share in UK, Poland and Dubai through this effort.

The Sri Lanka Tea Board and the Ministry of Plantation are now holding discussions with these foreign partners to set up these Tea promotion centers. The Minister assured not to privatize government entities, but willing to form joint ventures with foreign parties.

`The government of Sri Lanka will acquire 51 percent of these ventures, but we will provide all infrastructure to them. They will pour funds, he said.

The Minister said after completion of 90 days, the President has ordered to show progress of the line ministries and its affiliated institutions. The Mahinda Chinthanaya has created new environment to boost local economy and foreign earnings without accepting the privatization process.

Speaking to media the minister said that the Tea Board and the TRI wants to protect the local tea industry .Both the organizations are now implementing various processes to protect and boost tea exports.

He said that the Tea Board is now dealing with Arab countries to re-acquire tea market.

`We are now dealing with Egypt to setup another Tea promotion center, he said.

Meanwhile, head of Tea Research Institute Amarananda Weerasinghe said that their institution has now launched a soil conservation project to protect tea estates and water catchments areas in the up country.

According to cabinet of ministers , Potato plantation is banned in the lands of Regional plantation companies.

`If they want to start potato plantation, they have to take a license from the Central Environmental Authority , said Mr.Weerasinghe.

The government main tea institutions Janatha Estate Development Board and the Sri Lanka Estate Plantation Corporation also plan to introduce bio-tea with the help of foreign investors. These ventures will be the key business projects , said a higher official of the ministry.

`At present most of foreigners complain that they do not receive pure Ceylon tea due to the unethical business practices of the tea buyers. We try to end this situation and hope to introduce unblended tea to the international market, said the Minister.