Celebrating the hard work and dedication of its most valuable employees in the tea sector, Hayleys Plantatis hosted the inaugural Best Tea Plucker Competition at the Radella Estate in Nanuoya recently.

Talawakelle Tea Estates’, Palani Selvi from the Bearwell Estate was crowned the Hayleys Plantations Best Tea Plucker for year 2020 with an incredible harvesting rate of 19.4 kg per hour, winninga cash prize of Rs. 40,000 and an all-expense paid trip for herself and four of her family members to India.

In addition to the winners of the overall contest, company-level winners were also presented with similar awards, with first prize winners also being provided with a family trip to India, while second place winners were provided an all-expense paid family trip within Sri Lanka and third place winners were presented with trophies and valuable vouchers for retail items worth Rs. 20,000.

Inspired by the one-off national Best Tea Plucker Competition organised by the Sri Lanka Tea Board in celebration of the 150^th anniversary of Ceylon Tea in 2018, Hayleys Plantations made the bold decision to carry forward the competition within its estates based on the strong positive response from its employees towards the contest.

Judged by specialists and senior members of the industry, the final rounds of the competition brought together families of the participants, the senior management of the Hayleys Group, while Hayleys Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohan Pandithage served as Chief Guest at the event.

The event also incorporated the Hayleys Group wide tree planting initiative with the planting of a white sandalwood sapling by the senior management of the Hayleys Group.

Photo caption: (Above) Hayleys Plantations Best Tea Plucker 2020, Palani Selvi, with her award and certificate (left) and Tea Harvesters taking part in the final round of the competition

A plaque commemorating the Best Tea Plucker Competition and the Hayleys Group tree planting initiative (left); A tea harvester sorting out her harvest to be judged and Best Tea Plucker Palani Selvi with her mother

Weighing the final harvests at the competition (left) and Hayleys Group Head - Human Resources, Legal, Corporate Communications & Sustainability, Group Security, Darshi Talpahewa, Hayleys Group Executive Director Sarath Ganegoda, Hayleys PLC Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohan Pandithage and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai arriving for the event

Hayleys PLC Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohan Pandithage planting a “Sudu Handun” sapling at the Uda Radella Estate (left) and Tea harvesters together with their families at the event.

Hayleys Plantations employees at the competition

Best Tea Pluckers across the Hayleys Plantations Group

A judge sorting through a final harvest (left) and Gold Award winner for Kelani Valley Plantations PLC Subramaniyam Kamaleswari with Hayleys PLC Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohan Pandithage and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai

Gold Award winner for Horana Plantations PLC  Sebestian Benedict Mery with Hayleys PLC Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohan Pandithage and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai and the HPL team (left) and Hayleys Plantations Best Tea Plucker 2020, Palani Selvi, with Hayleys PLC Chairman and Chief Executive, Mohan Pandithage and Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai and Talawakelle Tea Estates team