Malin conferred with Lifetime Achievement at National Tea Awards
Malin Goonetileke, Secretary General of Planters’ Association (PA), was honoured with the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award at the National Tea Awards held recently at the Nelum Pokuna, Colombo.
He was one of seven recipients, who were recognized for his outstanding contribution, for driving change and influence to leave a lasting legacy on the industry.
Conferred on the basis of exceptional and major contributions to the industry, the honorees, exemplifying the award were selected on their knowledge, skill and experience along with values of integrity, excellence and long-term innovative achievement.
The PA in a media release said Mr. Goonetileke counts 52 years of unbroken, dedicated service across the plantation sector, having joined the industry at the age of 18 when he was handpicked by a sterling company, the Central Province Ceylon Tea Company managed by Mackwoods Estates and Agencies Ltd. He was appointed Superintendent at a relatively young age of 25 years and consequent to nationalization of estates, elevated to the role of Visiting Agent (VA) before he was 30. During his planting career he served on five estates which achieved the highest yield in the respective districts due to his commitment to replanting and maximising crop and in recognition of his achievements was invited by the UK-based Commonwealth Development Corporation to undertake a pioneering tea project in East Malaysia where he worked as General Manager for 9 years until its fruition. Later as Managing Director of a BOI company manufacturing multiwall paper sacks for bulk packaging of tea, he was responsible for establishing the UK standard for Kraft paper sacks.