Malwatte Valley Plantations PLC Director and CEO Shanaka Samaradiwakara has been appointed Chairman of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PAC), with Kahawatte Plantations PLC Director and CEO Binesh Pananwala taking over as Deputy Chairman.
The appointments were made at the PAC’s 172nd Annual General Meeting, held on 19 September at the Cinnamon Grand.
The AGM was attended by Central Bank of Sri Lanka Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, who served as Chief Guest, and Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Raj Obeyesekere, who was the Guest of Honour.
Addressing the gathering for the first time as Chairman, Samaradiwakara presented a five-point vision aimed at strengthening Sri Lanka’s plantation industry. His priorities covered value addition, research and development, land use and productivity, irrigation, and long-term security of tenure.
He stressed that the future competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s commercial agriculture sector would depend heavily on closer cooperation among industry stakeholders, supported by a practical understanding of the challenges confronting producers on the ground.
Samaradiwakara highlighted the growing importance of value-added tea, which accounted for more than half of Sri Lanka’s total tea export volumes in 2025. He noted that Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) have contributed significantly to this segment through sustained investment, including recent ventures into matcha, green tea and artisanal teas.
Against this backdrop, he called for greater collaboration between the Sri Lanka Tea Board and exporters to safeguard the emerging high-value tea segment. He pointed out that considerable volumes of green tea and other premium teas remain unsold at auction, while comparable products continue to be imported into the country.
“We respectfully request the authorities to review this matter and introduce appropriate measures to support domestic production and value addition,” he stated.
Turning to research and development, Samaradiwakara said the availability of commercially viable alternatives to several essential crop protection products remains inadequate. He therefore urged the Tea, Rubber and Coconut Research Institutes to take the lead in developing practical and scientifically validated alternatives.
He also highlighted the urgent need to address diseases affecting the rubber sector, warning against a repeat of the devastation experienced by Sri Lanka’s coffee industry.
FITIS to Turn Sri Lanka’s Digital Ambitions into Action at Digital Day 2026
Sri Lanka Digital Day 2026 will bring together national digital policy and practical business adoption on 6 November 2026 in Colombo, creating a platform for policymakers, technology leaders and businesses to examine how digital transformation can translate into measurable opportunities.
The event, organised by the Digital Services Chapter of the Federation of Information Technology Industry Sri Lanka (FITIS), will be held alongside INFOTEL 2026, FITIS’s flagship ICT exhibition, which is scheduled to take place from 6 to 8 November 2026.
The forum will convene policymakers, technology professionals, corporate decision-makers and entrepreneurs to discuss how digital transformation can enhance productivity, improve competitiveness and unlock new avenues for business growth.
The programme has been designed around two interconnected aspects of Sri Lanka’s digital development: creating the policy and regulatory environment required for progress, and enabling businesses to adopt technologies that turn those frameworks into practical outcomes.
The morning programme will focus on national digital strategy, SME development and the banking and financial ecosystem. Presentations and a panel discussion, including an audience Q&A, will explore issues surrounding banking, finance and regulation while examining how business priorities fit within Sri Lanka’s broader digital transformation agenda.
The afternoon sessions will shift toward implementation, with particular attention on SMEs, entrepreneurs and industry practitioners. Case studies on digital transformation, practical business-focused discussions and a panel examining corporate IT leadership and technology adoption strategies will address how organisations can move beyond exploring digital solutions to implementing them effectively.
FITIS Digital Services Chapter President N. Udayakumar said the event is intended to create a common platform for stakeholders across Sri Lanka’s digital ecosystem.
“Sri Lanka Digital Day is intended to bring the digital ecosystem into one conversation, connecting policymakers, technology companies, businesses and industry leaders around the opportunities emerging from digital transformation. As Sri Lanka continues to build its digital economy, we need stronger collaboration between these stakeholders to translate technology into practical value, productivity and new opportunities,” he said.
Incoming Planters’ Association Chairman Unveils Five-Point Strategy to Revitalise Industry at 172nd AGM
