Sri Lanka, Jan. 7 -- Sri Lanka celebrated a major milestone in innovation as 80-year-old Rohan De Lanerolle Snr received five prestigious awards at the Asia Awards 2026 in India.

The accolades-ranging from Asia's Innovative Maker Award in the Tea Industry to the Asia Lifetime Achiever Award-recognize his decades-long contribution to industrial engineering and practical solutions.

De Lanerolle's patented machine conversion technology eliminates the need for metal staples in tea bags, a challenge that has stumped engineers worldwide.

The innovation allows tea manufacturers to upgrade existing machinery, saving costs of up to one million US dollars per machine while ensuring compliance with strict food safety standards.

Over 50 machines ...