RTS Holdings has achieved a major milestone in Sri Lanka’s tea industry, with its Hidellana and Avissawella Tea Factories receiving the prestigious Zero Carbon Manufacturing Certification from The Sustainable Future Group. This recognition further strengthens the company’s position as a leader in sustainable tea production.
The certification, awarded to Avissawella Tea Factory (Private) Limited, confirms its successful transition to net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. It follows a comprehensive independent audit carried out in line with internationally accepted standards, including the WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol and ISO 14064-1.
The achievement demonstrates that RTS Holdings has effectively measured and reduced its emissions to net zero through a combination of operational efficiency improvements and carbon offset initiatives. As part of this effort, the company offset 1,020 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) using certified carbon credits from a hydropower project under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
This milestone reflects the company’s strong commitment to sustainability through renewable energy adoption, improved energy efficiency, and alignment with global environmental standards. It also places RTS Holdings among the pioneers of zero-carbon tea manufacturing in Sri Lanka, setting a new benchmark for the industry.
Company representatives noted that the certification aligns with their long-term vision of combining premium Ceylon tea production with responsible environmental stewardship. “This recognition underscores our commitment to minimizing environmental impact while maintaining the highest standards of quality and operational excellence,” they said.
Industry observers highlight that sustainability certifications are becoming increasingly important for Sri Lanka’s competitiveness in global tea markets, particularly in environmentally conscious regions such as Europe and North America. The recognition is expected to strengthen RTS Holdings’ international reputation while contributing to broader national sustainability goals.
RTS Holdings, chaired by Lalith Liyanage, operates a diversified portfolio across plantations and related sectors, with a continued focus on innovation, quality, and sustainability.
Smart Quest celebrates 20 years of shaping and transforming leaders in Sri Lanka
As the world observes ICF International Coaching Week 2026, Smart Quest Coaching & Consulting (Pvt) Ltd is celebrating a significant milestone of its own—20 years of contribution to leadership development, professional coaching, and organisational capability building in Sri Lanka.
Founded in 2006 by Andrea Jayatilleka, Smart Quest was established on a strong belief that people are at the heart of organisational progress. Drawing from her experience as an economics educator, Andrea identified a critical gap between the potential of Sri Lankan university graduates and the challenges they faced when entering the workforce.
To address this gap, Smart Quest was created to provide career guidance, people capability development, and recruitment consultancy services. Inspired by her father, Claude Baldsing—then at E. B Creasy & Company—Andrea carried forward his conviction that people are the true driving force of any organisation. Approximately five years after the company’s inception, Claude joined Smart Quest following his retirement, bringing with him extensive corporate experience and a deep belief in its mission.
Over the past two decades, what began as a people-focused HR services firm has evolved into one of Sri Lanka’s respected names in leadership development, professional coaching certification, and organisational consulting. Today, Smart Quest has partnered with more than 300 organisations across over 20 industries and has developed over 10,000 leaders.
The company’s journey has also been shaped by the contributions of Jayantha Fernando and Anil Bandara, who joined Andrea as Directors during its formative years. As the organisation grew, Anil continued in his role as Director, where his commercial insight and strategic leadership have played a key role in strengthening Smart Quest’s market position.
Smart Quest is currently the only organisation in Sri Lanka that integrates leadership training, ICF-accredited coaching certification, and HR consultancy under one roof. This integrated approach enables the company to support organisations across the entire people development lifecycle—from capability building and leadership training to coaching certification and HR advisory services.
Leading its facilitation practice is Founder and Director Andrea Jayatilleka, now joined by Murshid Munshif as Lead Facilitator, further strengthening Smart Quest’s training and leadership development capacity for the years ahead.
RTS Holdings’ Hidellana and Avissawella tea factories earn Zero Carbon Manufacturing Certification
