Sri Lanka’s most awarded plantations company, Hayleys Plantations, recently hosted the U.S.
Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung, on an exclusive tour of its Pedro estate in Nuwara Eliya.
Commenting on the visit via Twitter, Ambassador Chung said: “Tea production is key to Sri Lanka’s
economy and the region’s success. I met with the Managing Director and Regional Manager of
Hayleys Plantation to explore a business owner’s perspective on challenges from the economic crisis
and how to meet the needs of plantation workers.”
During her visit, Hayleys Plantations Managing Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai and his team
demonstrated the innovative technology and processes set in place at Kelani Valley Plantations
(KVPL), including its implementation of digital weighing scales linked to personalised NFC cards to
reliably track and reward employees on performance.
The tour also included discussions on a range of initiatives undertaken by Hayleys Plantations to
support the health and well-being of their workforce and address the challenges presented by the
current economic crisis. These initiatives were showcased in detail during the visit, with the team
providing an overview of the company’s exceptional welfare programs implemented over the last
two years.
One of the main highlights of the event was the recognition given to the RPC’s award-winning
‘Home For Every Plantation Worker’ project, which has improved the quality of life for more than
8,700 employees and their families, benefiting a total of over 58,000 people. By focusing on health
and nutrition management, well-being, capacity building, and the enhancement of living conditions,
the project aims to provide comprehensive support to workers and their loved ones.
The visit follows that of the Ambassador of Japan to Sri Lanka, Hideaki Mizukoshi, to the Pedro
Estate late last year. “It has been a pleasure to witness how Sri Lanka’s world-renowned tea is
manufactured. We were privileged to visit the beautiful tea fields and experience the new
innovations in sustainability and HR pioneered by Hayleys Plantations. Employees are at the heart of
any enterprise, and this was clearly evident during the discussions I had with some of the employees.
I wish the company all the best in their future endeavours and applaud the unique processes and
systems they have put in place with the support of JASTECA,” Ambassador Mizukoshi commented
on his visit.
Comprising three top-rated Regional Plantation Companies, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC (KVPL),
Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC (TTEL) and Horana Plantations PLC (HPL), which is managed by
Hayleys Plantations, The Sector owns 60 tea and rubber estates covering approximately 26 hectares
of land spanning three distinctive agro-climatic regions.
About Hayleys Plantations
As pioneers in the tea and rubber industry, Hayleys Plantations is the world’s most awarded and
certified sustainable plantation on human capital management, ecological friendliness, community,
people empowerment and ethical business standards. Currently, Hayleys Plantations offers direct
employment to over 21,000 employees and cares for a population of over 140,000.
- US Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julie Chung with Hayleys Plantations Managing
Director, Dr. Roshan Rajadurai and the team at the estate
