A Symbol of Excellence
A front-runner among plantation companies in Sri Lanka , producing high-quality pure Ceylon Tea from 16 finest tea gardens in Sri Lanka, we take great care to pay attention to and maintain the highest possible eco-friendliness in our tea gardens. We have commissioned our own hydroelectric power plants and installed Solar panels to produce clean and renewable energy, utilize the most effective and hygienic technology in the tea production process, pioneered the Food Factory concept, provide free healthcare to our employees and have constantly been judged as the best amongst Regional Tea Plantation Companies in Sri Lanka.
Our story began in 1992, when Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC was established, following a privatization program initiated by the government of Sri Lanka. However, the history of most of the 16 tea estates in our portfolio dates back to the late 19th century, when the first Scottish Planters set foot on this island of magnificent landscapes and gentle weather, to write the first chapter of the story of tea estates in Sri Lanka.
Backed by a rich heritage, we have been producing the finest Ceylon tea of the country, unsurpassed by any other, since 1992. We have taken the lead in almost all the new ventures in the industry and have been duly rewarded over the years. In 2001, our largest tea garden, the Great Western Estate became the first tea estate in Sri Lanka to obtain the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) certification. In 2006, Kiruwanaganga Estate became the first tea factory in Sri Lanka to be ISO 22000:2005 certified. 2011 was another landmark achievement as our tea estates acquired the Rainforest Alliance certification. Great Western estate created another first in 2017 when ISO 9001:2015 & ISO 14001:2015 were certified. Holyrood became the first tea factory in the country to be ISO 50001:2018 certified in 2020.
Our people are indeed our greatest asset. At Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, we inculcate our people with a customer-oriented culture which focuses greatly on professionalism and the delivering of excellence.
Since its inception, the Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC has demonstrated a strong commitment to society and our CSR philosophy emphasizes more on Community Development. We are passionate about serving the communities we live in and this passion is greatly evident in the numerous projects and activities conducted by us in all our tea estates in Sri Lanka, from Childcare to Education, Health, Caring for Elders, Religious events, sports and recreation. We at Talawakelle Tea Estates are always ready to go that extra mile in achieving our objectives in a sustainable manner.
We unceasingly pledge our support to safeguarding our environment. In addition to implementing an innovative integrated pest management process, all vulnerable water sources in our estates are adequately protected to ensure regular replenishment, and wastewater from our factories is purified before being released into natural waterways and streams.
Energy Management and sourcing renewable energy is one of the key areas of sustainability for Talawakelle Tea Estates. The company is committed to reducing indirect energy consumption and is proud to be a supplier to the national electricity grid through our subsidiaries TTEL Hydro Power Company (Pvt) Ltd and TTEL Somerset Hydro Power Company (Pvt) Ltd as well as the rooftop Solar power projects in Bearwell, Calsay, Dessford, Deniyaya and Moragalla.
Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC became the first agriculture based company in the Country to be named Overall Winner - National Business Excellence Awards in 2019. We also became the first Regional Plantation Company to be certified as “Great Place to Work” in 2021.
Our rich history, fearless pioneers, respected leadership and ground-breaking corporate culture – is the formula behind the success and basis our name to be synonymous with the highest quality Ceylon tea, created for perfect moments, lasting memories and encompassing sealing everlasting partnerships.