The Lanka Coffee Association, in partnership with Australia’s Market Development Facility (MDF) and Jetwing Hotels, hosted the second annual Sri Lankan Coffee Festival recently.
The Lanka Coffee Association (LCA) was set up, as Sri Lanka’s first coffee association that brought together a variety of stakeholders in the coffee industry to fulfill the goal of developing the speciality coffee sector through several initiatives over the past two years since its launch.
An activity that marked the comeback of the Sri Lankan coffee industry was hosting the first-ever Sri Lankan coffee festival last year.
Following the success of the inaugural event, the LCA, in partnership with MDF and Jetwing Group, hosted the second Sri Lankan Coffee Festival at Jetwing Colombo 7.
Chairman, Lanka Coffee Association, Rinosh Nasar, said, “The Sri Lankan Coffee Festival hosted by the LCA, is a celebration of our rich coffee heritage and the incredible opportunities ahead. At the LCA, we are focused on pushing the growth of the Sri Lankan coffee industry from plant to cup and uplifting the livelihood of our coffee farmers.”
The event featured various activities, including panel discussions on the “Upward Journey of the Coffee Industry in Sri Lanka: The Challenges Faced and The Way Forward”.
Australian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka and the Maldives, Paul Stephens, was the guest of honour. He said, “We are pleased to witness Sri Lanka’s continued commitment towards sustainable development of the coffee sector, and the Australian Government will continue to be a proponent to drive prosperity and inclusivity through our continued collaboration.”
At the mini exhibition, Colombo Coffee Company, Temple Grounds, Soul Coffee, Helanta Coffee, Elpitiya Plantations, Valli Products presented their coffee, enabling the public to experience the taste and aroma of locally grown coffee.
Concurrently, the finals of the LCA Barista Championship took place with the winner being Suraj Nipunasiri of Butter Boutique.
The regional Barista championships were hosted in Dambulla, Galle and Negombo regions throughout April). A report by MDF “Sri Lanka’s Coffee Renaissance: A Guide to the Speciality Coffee Industry” was also released. The report unlocks invaluable insights into the local specialty coffee sector and reveals key investment opportunities. To build on the synergies of coffee and tourism, Jetwing Group, Sri Lanka’s leading hotel chain, was the platinum sponsor for the event.
Chairman of Jetwing Symphony PLC, and The Lighthouse Hotel PLC, Hiran Cooray said, “Tourism and coffee are like two perfect blends, each complementing the other in creating a unique and unforgettable experience for travellers seeking to discover the beauty and coffee culture of Sri Lanka. Being a part of the 2023 Coffee Festival was a great opportunity to showcase the growing coffee culture and its link to tourism.”
The LCA hopes to further develop the coffee sector and activate more programs and initiatives targeting a variety of stakeholders in the coffee value chain in Sri Lanka.