Hayleys opens state-of-the-art Kiruwanaganga Tea Factory in Southern region
Daily FT: Hayleys Plantations marked a significant milestone with the ceremonial opening of the new Kiruwanaganga Tea Factory, reinforcing its commitment to sustainable innovation and operational excellence in Sri Lanka’s plantation sector.
The factory, built with an investment of Rs. 780 million, is equipped with state-of-the-art machinery including advanced rollers, dryers, and precision colour sorters. Modern facilities such as dedicated elevators for tea transport and an in-house tea tasting area have been introduced to improve safety, efficiency and quality assurance. Enhanced fire protection and workplace safety measures have also been integrated into the design. Managed and operated by Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, the Kiruwanaganga factory boasts an impressive manufacturing capacity of 14,000 kilograms of tea per day and is ranked as the No. 1 low-grown factory according to the Colombo Tea Traders Association (CTTA).
Located in Kirillapone, Matara, the new factory replaces a previous facility affected by several events. Despite multiple external challenges over recent years, including the pandemic, threat of landslides and economic constraints, Hayleys Plantations ensured continuity of operations during the transition, underscoring its focus on long-term resilience and stakeholder trust.
The new Kiruwanaganga facility is designed to meet international environmental standards and the Green Building Concept, aligning with the Group’s broader sustainability agenda. It has earned numerous certifications including the Rainforest Alliance, ISO 22000:2018, ISO 14064-1:2018, Ecolabel, Science Based Targets, UN Climate Neutral Now, Mother & Child friendly Seal for Responsible Businesses (MCFS), Responsible Care Certification, Certificate of Ethical Trading and will soon be Green Building certified. The factory is positioned to support local economic development by enabling smallholder integration into the formal tea supply chain.
The event was attended by Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage, Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai, Talawakelle Tea Estates Director / CEO Senaka Alawattegama, Kiruwanaganga Estate Regional General Manager Gimhan Jayatilake and distinguished representatives from the tea industry, Government and law enforcement.
“Tea is more than an industry. It is a way of life, a vital export, and a key contributor to Sri Lanka’s economy. At Hayleys Plantations, we invest in our people, our communities, and our future. Wherever Hayleys operates, opportunities follow – more jobs, more value addition, and more progress. This is not only the most advanced tea factory in Sri Lanka, but also the first of its kind that I have had the privilege of opening as Chairman,” said Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage. “It stands as a testament to the resilience of our teams and their ability to navigate complex challenges, while continuing to set new benchmarks in quality, sustainability and diversification.”
Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai added: “This factory represents a journey of perseverance. Despite a challenging external environment, we maintained uninterrupted tea production throughout the transition, ensuring both quality and continuity while building for the future.”
OSL take:
The tea industry in Sri Lanka plays a vital role in generating export revenue to the country as well as serve as a tourist attraction. There has been a steady growth in the tea industry with prices fetched by local tea and tea based products witnessing an increase in international markets. With local tea authorities focused on tea produced in Sri Lanka regaining the top slot earlier enjoyed by Ceylon Tea in international markets, there have been multiple programmes being conducted targeting the industry. These range from promotional campaigns in foreign markets, to incentive schemes offered to businesses in the tea industry and encouraging local tea producers to look at adding value to tea products and diversifying the existing export product portfolio. All these are indicative of the continuous expansion in Sri Lanka’s tea industry and in-turn the growing business/investment opportunities in the industry. The growth and expansion in the tea industry is also evident by the investment in state of the art facilities by local tea businesses to meet the evolving demands of the foreign markets. All these factors present opportunities for foreign businesses/investors. Given that the tea industry also plays a role in the country’s tourism, foreign businesses/investors could explore the growing business/investment opportunities in the tea industry and related sectors as well as in the tourism industry.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20250418/Z_7 |