Brings together top-class institutes and world-renowned experts from 8 countries
Over 700 participants locally and globally
Quantified, verified and offset 15 tCO2e for Carbon Neutrality
Hayleys Plantations, a global leader in progressive plantations management, announced the successful
conclusion of the first of its kind, carbon – neutral International Plantations Sustainability Summit
(IPSS) at BMICH.
The full-day event brought together an impressive line-up of plantations, agriculture and sustainability
experts from Sri Lanka and across the globe to share emerging best practices and innovative
breakthroughs in agronomic management and human resources that have the potential to radically
reshape the industry over the next decade.
Speaking at the Summit, Chief Guest Hayleys Group Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan
Pandithage expressed his appreciation to the distinguished speakers and panellists for their
participation. “The significance of the plantations industry cannot be overstated, as a contributor to
GDP and export revenues. Beyond its economic impact, it plays a vital role in uplifting the lives of
our fellow citizens and conserving our land’s beautiful, natural resources.
“At Hayleys we are proud to account for approximately 4.6% of the country’s tea and 4.7% of its
rubber production. The ethical and sustainable way we run our plantations have contributed to
Hayleys being ranked as Sri Lanka’s number one corporate for the third consecutive year, and its
prestigious AAA rating by Fitch. Today serves as a unique platform to collaborate and create greater
change together and I encourage all participants to focus on recommendations and actions towards a
more resilient industry.”
Addressing the gathering, Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai said the
Summit provided a unique opportunity to share knowledge and collaborate for a sustainable future.
“Ceylon tea has a legacy of 150 years and we are rightfully branded as the tea nation of the world.
To combat the challenges and impact of climate change on the industry, it is essential that we
optimize climate-smart and innovative agricultural practices and technologies.
“As we gather industry experts and stakeholders at the IPSS, we witness a powerful knowledge-
sharing initiative taking root for the first time. Moving forward, our goal is to take these learnings
and steer the entire plantations sector towards a more prosperous and equitable future defined by
ethical practices, environmental stewardship, and resilient growth.”
Press Release
Themed ‘Towards Sustainable Plantations – Reimagined | Redesigned | Resilient’, the summit
emphasized the integration of environmental, social, and governance considerations into every
business decision, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The panellists’, experts in a wide array of subjects including agroforestry, climate-resilient farming,
smart and precision agriculture, carbon sequestration and biodiversity preservation addressed gaps
in ESG and sustainability, integration of knowledge management practices, data-driven sustainability,
sustainable financing and the adoption of circular green economy concepts into business philosophy.
Delivering the keynote speech on ‘Global trends on sustainability approaches towards innovative
plantation production systems and opportunities for new business models’, World Resources
Institute (WRI), India, Director & Strategy Head Dr. A. Nambi Appadurai said: “Climate change is
the mother of all threats with uncertainty being the only certainty. It has affected every crop in the
globe and if we are to meet these challenges, we have to understand every aspect of its impact,
which includes not only the environmental changes but also its social bearing. Today’s solutions may
not be useful in the future and it is necessary that we hone our adaptive capabilities to ensure that
no one is left behind.”
Similarly, delivering the guest speech on ‘Regenerative Agriculture (RA) – A sustainable approach to
boost soil health in plantations’, Senior Scientist at Wageningen University, Netherlands Dr. Mirjam
Pulleman said: “Integrating regenerative agriculture to perennial crops has the potential to affect a
number of systems, strengthening plantations with higher resilience and lowering risks. It is in fact
essential for sustainability across the industry.”
Embracing environmental responsibility and climate action, the Hayleys Plantations sector quantified,
verified and offset its carbon footprint for the event by offsetting 15 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon
footprint), through the Sri Lanka Climate Fund.
About Hayleys Plantations:
Hayleys Plantations, comprising Kelani Valley Plantations PLC (KVPL), Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC
(TTEL), and Horana Plantations PLC (HPL), owns 60 tea and rubber estates across approximately
26,137 hectares of land. As pioneers in sustainability, they are committed to driving positive change
and innovation in the plantation industry.
About the International Sustainability Summit:
The International Sustainability Summit is a forum that brings together local and global experts to
share their expertise and showcase cutting-edge innovations in the plantation industry. Organized
under the theme “Towards Sustainable Plantations – Reimagined | Redesigned | Resilient,” the
summit aims to forge new pathways for sustainable growth and collaboration among stakeholders.
Hayleys Group Chairman and Chief Executive Mohan Pandithage delivering his speech as
the Chief Guest for the Summit
Hayleys Plantations Managing Director Dr. Roshan Rajadurai addressing the participants
A panel discussion in session at the Summit
Participants at the Summit