The Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PA) has commended the swift and effective action taken by the Ministry of Plantation Industries, the Sri Lanka Tea Board, and all other State and diplomatic officials who played a role in negotiating the lifting of the temporary suspension of Sri Lankan tea imports by the Russian Federation.
“The prompt and strategic intervention of key officials across State institutions including Minister of Plantation Industries, Navin Dissanayake, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman, Rohan Pethiyagoda, officials of the Department of Agriculture, and the National Plant Quarantine Service was crucial in bringing about a swift resolution to a serious issue, that was acceptable to all stakeholders, within the span of just two tea auctions,” a media statement issued by the Association said.
“While the limited disruption to exports of Sri Lankan tea to such an important market as the Russian Federation is unfortunate, we hope that this incident will serve as further impetus for the continuing improvement of phytosanitary surveillance and quarantine processes within the domestic supply chain,” it said.