Tea promo levy suspended

The promotional levy charged by the Sri Lanka Tea Board (SLTB) from tea exporters will be suspended from July 1 for a period of six months.

Tea Exporters Association (TEA) Chairman Sanjaya Herath said they had proposed the promotional levy of Rs.3.50 per kilo to be removed for a period of six months.

He explained that under the circumstances with the COVID-19 crisis they have decided not to proceed with promotional campaigns and only carry out a digital campaign and temporarily curtail promotions for the next six months.

The monies from this levy have recently been used to provide assistance to other stakeholders in the sector like the smallholders and the Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) as well in a bid to overcome certain crisis situations.