Tea industry can demonstrate its ability to withstand the pressure mounted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Jayampathy Molligoda said.

"We have already identified about 12 countries and we are aggressively going ahead with the tea promotional campaign. Hence,  I’m confident that the tea industry can demonstrate its ability to withstand the pressure and get more foreign exchange in to the country that will have a trickle-down effect right up to the small holders," he said whilst speaking  exclusively to Ada Derana first at 9.

Speaking further he also expressed the following;

"It is not unusual during the month of April for the tea prices to go up. However, this particular year there have been an unprecedented price increase. The tea prices have gone up by Rs.120 to Rs.150. Specially the low grown tea prices have gone up by Rs.150."

"The president has given us a clear direction to continue with the auction system as well as the production and the manufacture. Thanks to the private sectors, the farmers, the manufactures and the brokers and in particular the exporters who come and buy tea. Because of them we have been able to maintain the tea industry uninterrupted. In my view the future is very positive," he added.