Sri Lanka Tea Board

International Tea Day 2026 Celebrations Successfully Promote Pure Ceylon Tea Worldwide

The Sri Lanka Tea Board, in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and 27 Sri Lankan Missions overseas, successfully concluded a series of International Tea Day 2026 celebrations across key global destinations, promoting the heritage, quality, and sustainability of Pure Ceylon Tea.
Organized under the theme “Sustaining Tea – Supporting Communities,” the global campaign highlighted Sri Lanka’s rich tea heritage, internationally recognized tea craftsmanship, and the vital contribution of the tea industry to the national economy.
Through the coordinated efforts of Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad, the celebrations strengthened international awareness and appreciation of Ceylon Tea while creating valuable opportunities for trade promotion, cultural exchange, and market engagement.
A wide range of promotional activities, including tea tasting sessions, exhibitions, cultural showcases, and networking events, were organized in collaboration with foreign stakeholders, tea buyers, diplomats, industry professionals, and tea enthusiasts.
The tea tasting sessions introduced participants to the distinctive flavors, aromas, and regional varieties of Pure Ceylon Tea, while exhibitions showcased Sri Lanka’s premium tea products, specialty teas, and value-added tea innovations. A variety of Ceylon artisanal teas were also showcased at the events, attracting significant interest and attention toward these innovative product concepts among international audiences and tea industry stakeholders.
The celebrations further emphasized Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainability, innovation, ethical production practices, and maintaining the premium quality standards that distinguish Ceylon Tea in global markets.
The International Tea Day 2026 campaign successfully reinforced Sri Lanka’s position as one of the world’s leading tea-producing nations while enhancing the global image and recognition of Pure Ceylon Tea.
The Sri Lanka Tea Board extends its sincere appreciation to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, all participating overseas missions, tea exporters, industry partners, and supporting organizations for their valuable contribution toward the success of the International Tea Day 2026 celebrations.
The events were initiated by Ms. Manel Weerasekara, Deputy Director (Promotion), and Ms. Pubudini Karunathilake, Market Promotion Officer of the Tea Promotion Division, under the guidance and supervision of Mrs. Sudharma Karunarathna, Director (Promotion).

Sri Lanka made a strong impact at SIAL Shanghai 2026 with participation from TDK Trade Links (Pvt.) Ltd., Meezan & Company (Pvt.) Ltd., Hedleys Tea (Pvt.) Ltd., and Moragaha Ella Estate (Pvt.) Ltd. under the Sri Lanka Tea Board pavilion, actively engaging in buyer meetings, matchmaking sessions, and discussions with Chinese importers and distributors, generating strong interest in both bulk and value-added Ceylon Tea, including organic and artisanal products. The participation further strengthened Sri Lanka’s presence at the event and reinforced its position as a premium tea origin with growing demand in the Chinese market. Basilur Tea Exports (Pvt.) Ltd. and Renuka Agri Foods PLC also participated independently, further enhancing visibility and exploring new business opportunities in China.

Fresh Tea Festival -2026 (Neum Tea Mangallaya)
The Annual Fresh Tea Festival (Neum Tea Mangallaya), a major cultural event in Sri Lanka’s tea industry will be held on 31st May 2026 for the 09th consecutive year at religious venues across all tea-growing regions of the country. Ceylon Tea, with a proud heritage spanning over 159 years, has been enriched by the nation’s diverse multi-religious and multicultural traditions, which continue to strengthen and celebrate the unity of the tea community.
The main ceremony will be held at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, Masjidul Hidaya Jummah Mosque, Welamboda, and St. Anthony’s Cathedral, Kandy, under the patronage of the Hon. Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Mr. Samantha Vidyarathna, commencing from 9:00 a.m. onwards.
Parallel ceremonies will be held on the same day at the following religious venues with the participation of all stakeholders in the tea sector.
• Rathnapura Historical Saman Devalaya
• Historical Gatabaru Rajamaha Viharaya, Kotapola
• Historical Muthiyangana Rajamaha Viharaya , Badulla
• Kande Viharaya, Aluthgama
• Sri Bakthi Hanuman Kovila , Ramboda. See less

SRI LANKA’S PARTICIPATION - 8th China International Tea Expo 2026 – Hangzhou, China
Sri Lanka successfully promoted Pure Ceylon Tea at the 8th China International Tea Expo 2026 held in Hangzhou, China from 21–25 May. With the facilitation of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, four Sri Lankan tea companies—Venture Tea (Pvt) Ltd, Imperial Tea Exports (Pvt) Ltd, Akbar Brothers (Pvt) Ltd, and Merctea International (Pvt) Ltd—showcased premium Ceylon Tea products and engaged with buyers, distributors, and tea industry stakeholders. The participation generated strong promotional visibility and enhanced market pe*******on of Ceylon Tea across multiple provinces in China.

Sri Lanka’s Participation at the 18th Anhui International Tea Industry Expo 2026, Hefei, China

Sri Lanka successfully promoted Ceylon Tea at the 18th Anhui International Tea Industry Expo 2026 held in Hefei, China. With the support of the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Beijing, Venture Tea (Pvt) Ltd, Imperial Tea Exports (Pvt) Ltd, Millennium Teas (Pvt) Ltd, and Sinolan Teas (Pvt) Ltd participated at the event representing their Chinese agents and showcased a range of premium Ceylon Tea products. The participation enhanced the visibility of Ceylon Tea among buyers, distributors, and consumers from different provinces of China while creating valuable trade and networking opportunities at no exhibition space cost to Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Hon. Samantha Vidyarathna, led the Sri Lankan delegation to the Main Venue Event of International Tea Day 2026 in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, held under the theme “Silk Road Tea Aroma, Intelligence for Shared Prosperity”.

During the event, the Hon. Minister met with H.E. Xu Xianhui, Vice Chairman and Member of the Party Leadership Group of the People’s Government of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, together with delegates from Myanmar, Kenya, and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), to discuss enhanced multilateral cooperation in the global tea industry.

Addressing the international gathering, Minister Vidyarathna highlighted Sri Lanka’s rich tea heritage and global contribution to the tea sector, while expressing appreciation for China’s leadership in promoting international tea cooperation. The Minister also reaffirmed Sri Lanka’s commitment to sustainable plantation practices, welcomed strengthened green technology collaboration through the Belt and Road Joint Laboratory, and emphasized the importance of expanding trade and investment cooperation with Guangxi and other Chinese partners.

The Minister further reiterated Sri Lanka’s commitment to working closely with all stakeholders to foster a resilient, inclusive, and prosperous global tea industry under the shared vision of the Silk Road.