With the intention of promoting the tea drinking culture in Canada the Sri Lanka High Commission in Ottawa for the second time participated at the Tea Festival held on 1^st December 2012 at the Ottawa Convention Centre.  The Sri Lanka Tea Board provided the High Commission with complimentary tea and other promotional material.

A new feature this year was the participation of the private sector.  The High Commission invited the Tea importers within the Sri Lankan community to join in this effort and the MTI Group President Mr. Sarath Amarakoon,  a prominent entrepreneur in Ottawa M&M Twins Ltd. President Mr. Mohan Perera who has been a longstanding entrepreneur in Toronto, the Basilur Tea President Mr. Rohan Perera who deals with innovative tea packaging and who also won the SIAL Top 10 Award for Innovative Food Products of the Year participated  in  the  Tea  Festival  to  promote  Ceylon Tea in the Canadian market.  Mr. Nalin Wijesekera who is the President of  Ceylon Tea Company Ltd. also provided Silver Tips Brand Tea for display and sampling.

There were over 30 stalls representing Tea Exporters, Traders including Tea Houses and Diplomatic Missions  in Ottawa.  The High Commission stall was colourfully decorated with Ceylon Tea packages with information on regional diversity of Ceylon Tea.  Promotional material on tourism was also displayed.  Samples of  a variety of Ceylon Tea from the different regions such as Uva, Kandy, Uda Pussallawa, Ruhuna, Sabaragamuwa, Dimbula and Nuwara Eliya  were distributed and tea was also served to those  who visited the Sri Lanka table and the High Commission staff explained the different regional teas available in Sri Lanka.

At the cultural segment of the Tea Festival Sri Lankan students of Mrs. Ruki Gunasekera performed a Sri Lanka dance item.

Sri Lanka High Commission

Ottawa

 7^th December  2012