A reduction in both production and export has caused a Rs. 511,500 million loss for Sri Lanka’s tea industry in the past decade, said Prof. Wasantha Athukorale of the University of Peradeniya.
Quoting market statistics, he said that this figure is similar to a 75 per cent of the IMF bailout loan for Sri Lanka.
The drop in exports was as high as 24 pc, he added.
After a highest ever yield of 340 million metric tons in 2013, production dropped by 328,800 mt, 278,489 mt and 256,039 mt in 2015, 2020 and 2023 respectively.
During those four years, exports declined by 319,700 mt, 306,900 mt, 265,569 mt and 241,912 mt respectively, he added.
