Sri Lanka, July 16 -- The 'Ceylon Tea Village 500' National Programme, aimed at increasing Sri Lanka's made tea production to 400 million kilograms and boosting tea export earnings to US$2.5 billion by 2030, was officially launched yesterday(15).

Implemented by the Ministry of Plantation and Rural Infrastructure, the programme seeks to establish 500 tea villages across the country to modernise the smallholder tea sector, improve rural livelihoods, and accelerate the sustainable development of the tea industry.

The inaugural ceremony was held at Lucky Land Estate in Uwaparanagama, Badulla District, with Deputy Minister of Tourism Ruwan Ranasinghe attending as the chief guest.

The initiative also aims to harness the global reputation of ...