The Sri Lankan premium Ceylon tea brand, Basilur Tea, launched the ‘Roots of Ceylon’ initiative in celebration of International Tea Day, inviting tea enthusiasts to tie into the rich history of Ceylon tea.

With 202 years having passed since the first tea plants arrived in Sri Lanka, this year’s celebration marked a significant milestone in tea history and culture. Through their ‘Roots of Ceylon’ initiative, Basilur Tea planted 202 new tea plants as an ode to the industry that took the flavours of Ceylon tea to the world.

Guided by its philanthropic values, the ‘Roots of Ceylon’ initiative was focused on the intention of bringing communities across the globe together. This campaign connected tea connoisseurs who adore Basilur Tea to Sri Lanka’s rich tea heritage.

Dr. Gamini Abeywickrama, Chairman of Basilur Tea Export, said, “This year, International Tea Day holds great significance, as it also marks 202 years since tea plants were brought to Ceylon. ‘Roots of Ceylon’ allowed us to honour our vibrant history and culture while welcoming a new chapter of tea with our consumers. Remembering Ceylon’s legacy and having the opportunity to be part of that story is incredibly special to all of us.”

Inspired by the International Tea Day theme ‘Fostering Growth and Inclusion’, the ‘Roots of Ceylon’ initiative was created to enrich Sri Lanka’s tea industry for the next generation. Dr. Abeywickrama, joined by Managing Director Thushari Abeywickrama and their sons Finance Director Rajitha Abeywickrama and Marketing Director Charaka Abeywickrama, as well as Basilur Tea estate workers and their children, took part in the planting ceremony of the ‘Roots of Ceylon’ initiative at the Bucsh Tea Estate in Baddegama.

With tea culture evolving globally, Basilur Tea leads the way in redefining tea. From premium gift products to the freshest luxury handcrafted teas, the brand offers over 600 products, creating blends with bold flavour profiles, pairings, and aromas.

As a globally renowned tea brand, Basilur Tea currently supplies many countries, including international hotel chains, luxury lounges, and selected retail outlets. Driven by purpose, philanthropy, and the community, Basilur Tea continues to build upon the legacy of premium Ceylon tea.

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Asia Siyaka Warehousing (Pvt) Ltd., the largest auction logistics provider in Sri Lanka’s tea sector, has achieved a historic global benchmark in sustainability, becoming the world’s first and only ZeroCarbon® certified companyin tea auctionlogistics.

The achievement was awarded by the Sustainable Future Group (SFG), Sri Lanka’s premier sustainability certification body. It highlights the company’s leadership in environmental stewardship and positions Sri Lanka’s tea industry at the forefront of sustainable value chains worldwide.

With the certification, Sri Lanka and Ceylon Tea are unmatched globally as the only tea producer nation demonstrating a fully sustainable value chain, from plantations and packaging to warehousing and exporters.

The company holds LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, establishing it as the first tea logistics facility globally to earn both distinctions.

Importantly, Asia Siyaka Warehousing (Pvt) Ltd is also the first to achieve ISO 22000 certification. It is a fully owned subsidiary of Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC, among the leading commodity brokers in Sri Lanka.

The ZeroCarbon® Certification is granted to organisations that measure, reduce, and offset their carbon footprint. Working with the Climate and Conservation Consortium, Asia Siyaka Warehousing, has measured its annual greenhouse gas emissions, implemented reduction measures, and neutralised residual emissions through carbon offset projects, including long-standing contributions to the ‘Rotary One Million Trees’ reforestation program.

Anil Cooke, Managing Director, Asia Siyaka Warehousing (Pvt) Ltd., said, “Tea is one of Sri Lanka’s most iconic exports, and Sri Lankan tea is already recognised as the world’s first and only Ozone Friendly Tea. Achieving ZeroCarbon® certification is a promise to our clients, growers, shareholders, and future generations that we will continue to operate responsibly and sustainably. Ultimately, we are committed to doing the right thing by people and the planet.”

He added, “In operating a carbon-neutral warehouse, we offer producers and exporters who use our services the ability to reduce a portion of their supply chain’s carbon footprint and align with global sustainability standards and the expectations of environmentally conscious buyers. Theworld-first achievement provides our clients a clear competitive advantage.”

Highlighting the broader benefits, Charmara Dissanayake, Senior Vice President/Chief Operating Officer, Asia Siyaka Warehousing (Pvt) Ltd., noted, “Storing tea in a ZeroCarbon® certified facility offers multiple advantages surpassing environmental responsibility. Our controlled, energy‑efficient environment preserves the freshness, aroma, and integrity of tea, and reduces supply chain emissions. Moreover, as international markets increasingly value traceable and eco-friendly products, teas stored in carbon-neutral facilities gain enhanced market appeal, providing a competitive edge, reinforcing a commitment to sustainable excellence.”

Importantly, the certification also strengthens Asia Siyaka Warehouse appeal to third‑party logistics (3PL) customers beyond tea, who increasingly demand sustainable, carbon‑neutral solutions. For them, partnering Asia Siyaka Warehousing means reducing their own carbon footprint and gaining a competitive edge in markets that value traceable and eco‑friendly products.

Asia Siyaka Warehousing’s achievement also complements the broader industry’s sustainability journey. Regional plantation companies and tea exporters have already adopted carbon‑neutral operations under the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi) Corporate Net‑Zero Standard. Furthermore, Sri Lanka has pioneered the world’s first Carbon Neutral paper sack, strengthening its packaging credentials.

Both the ZeroCarbon® and LEED certifications affirm Asia Siyaka Warehousing’s commitment to minimising environmental impact through energy efficiency, waste reduction, cleaner technologies, reinforcing the company’s dedication to a greener future.

Asia Siyaka Warehousing (Pvt) Ltd. (ASW)

Asia Siyaka Warehousing (Pvt) Ltd. is a subsidiary of Asia Siyaka Commodities PLC, specialising in professional warehousing, logistics, and tea handling services. With state-of-the-art facilities and a commitment to quality and innovation, the company plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient movement of one of Sri Lanka’s most valuable exports — tea.

The Sustainable Future Group (SFG)

The Sustainable Future Group is Sri Lanka’s leading sustainability assurance organisation, whose main focus is on providing verification, validation and certification services to local and international corporates on solutions that will help them realign their strategies to be harmonious with environmental sustainability and social responsibility, which in turn will result in financial savings/gains in the long- term. They provide internationally recognised certifications such as CarbonConscious®, ZeroCarbon®, and WaterConscious® to organisations committed to environmental excellence.

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For over three decades, Dilmah has been more than a tea company. It has been the custodian of a philosophy that its Founder, Merrill J. Fernando, described simply: “Business is a matter of human service.” That conviction has guided every decision, from how Dilmah grows its tea to how it engages with the people and communities that make its story possible. Today, that philosophy is once again at the heart of a new milestone, as Dilmah Ceylon Tea Company PLC has been invited to be Patron of the Supply Chain Working Group of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka (Network Sri Lanka).

This invitation recognizes Dilmah’s leadership in reimagining supply chains – not just as pathways of commerce, but as ecosystems of fairness, transparency, and responsibility. It also spotlights the company’s commitment to ensuring that sustainability is embedded in every step of its journey, from the tea fields of Sri Lanka to consumers worldwide.

Building Ethical and Responsible Supply Chains

Dilmah’s supply chain is both local and global. In Sri Lanka, the company works with trusted partners to source tea, herbs, flavours, and packaging materials, while partnering with reputable international suppliers for specialized inputs and machinery. This blend ensures quality, compliance, and alignment with international standards. Significantly, 79 percent of Dilmah’s suppliers are based in Sri Lanka, reflecting its long-standing commitment to local communities. In 2024/25 alone, 71 percent of its total supplier spend – amounting to Rs. 14,494 million out of Rs. 20,440 million – was directed to local businesses, reinforcing its role as an anchor for the national economy.

Supply chain sustainability is not simply an operational goal for Dilmah; it is seen as essential to business continuity itself. With more than 85 percent of the company’s Scope 3 emissions situated within the upstream and downstream value chain, transforming supplier relationships into vehicles for climate action and ethical business is both a responsibility and a necessity.

Supplier Assessments and Accountability

To ensure this transformation, Dilmah has built robust systems for evaluating and engaging suppliers. The Supplier Capability Assessment Form forms the foundation of supplier selection, requiring compliance across a wide spectrum of criteria – business ethics (prohibiting bribery and corruption), labour standards, environmental requirements, food safety and quality assurance, and brand protection.

Suppliers are subject to biannual reviews against a marking scheme developed with input from key departments, while an annual Supplier Sustainability Self-Assessment is used to measure and rate performance. Where gaps are identified, suppliers are supported with extended timelines, mentoring, and follow-ups until they reach the required standards.

This approach reflects Dilmah’s belief that supply chains must be strengthened through collaboration rather than exclusion. As Rishan Sampath, Head of Sustainability and Conservation at Dilmah, explained: “Our approach to supply chains is the same as our approach to tea. It must be authentic, ethical, and respectful of the people and ecosystems that sustain it. A supply chain that is purely transactional cannot endure –  it must also be transformational.”

Stronger Together: Supplier Development

To embed sustainability across its supply network, Dilmah launched the Stronger Together initiative, a supplier sustainability roadmap designed to raise awareness and build capacity. This program supports suppliers in areas such as decarbonization, humanitarian action, and compliance with global sustainability requirements, while also providing targeted financial and technical assistance.

The initiative has unfolded in phases. In Phase 1, Dilmah convened a series of supplier conferences tailored to key supply chain segments. Sessions included a July 2023 engagement with packaging suppliers on sustainable packaging innovations, a December 2023 session with the tea sector on climate resilience and ethical labour practices, and a February 2025 forum with ingredient, logistics, and other partners to address global regulations and cross-cutting sustainability challenges.

Phase 2 – Stronger Together 2.0 builds on this foundation, focusing on implementation. It provides practical tools and training across ESG pillars, from carbon foot printing and waste management to human rights and anti-bribery practices. Training sessions also address compliance with emerging standards such as the new EU sustainability regulations. Suppliers are additionally supported with resources for decarbonization projects and humanitarian efforts, particularly in the tea sector. To foster transparency and peer learning, an online platform is being created where suppliers can interact and showcase their sustainability stories.

Recognition of Leadership

Dilmah’s commitment to sustainable supply chains has already earned international recognition. The company was named a finalist at the Reuters Global Sustainability Awards 2025 in the Net Zero: Supply Chain Decarbonization category, making it the only Sri Lankan brand recognized at this level. This acknowledgment reflects Dilmah’s ambitious, science-based climate commitments, validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi), and its leadership in driving supplier-level decarbonization.

Scaling Impact with Network Sri Lanka

While Dilmah’s internal programmes set a high standard, the company’s ability to influence wider change is magnified through its collaboration with Network Sri Lanka. The Supply Chain Working Group provides a platform for collaboration, shared learning, and collective action, enabling Dilmah to align with global frameworks while strengthening local practice.

“Through Network Sri Lanka, we are not just advancing our own practices – we are part of a larger movement,” said Rishan. “The Network connects us with peers across industries, fosters shared learning, and helps us benchmark against global frameworks. That context is invaluable in ensuring our efforts have both local relevance and international credibility.”

By serving as Patron, Dilmah is helping to catalyze progress on responsible sourcing, human rights due diligence, and decarbonization into supply chains. Its vision is not only to raise the bar within its own operations but also to inspire and enable others to do the same.

The Road Ahead

Looking ahead, Dilmah is committed to building resilient and regenerative supply chains – ones that support farmer livelihoods, strengthen smallholder climate adaptation, and ensure dignity and fairness for workers at every stage. Integrating renewable energy, reducing waste, and scaling decarbonization efforts across the supply network remain priorities.

At the heart of this journey is the same principle that has always guided Dilmah: business must exist to serve humanity. By embedding that belief into the fabric of its supply chain – and by working with Network Sri Lanka to translate global principles into local impact – Dilmah is helping build supply chains that are ethical, transparent, and resilient. Through its actions, the company continues to uphold the Ten Principles of the UN Global Compact – from advancing human rights and fair labour practices to protecting the environment and fostering integrity in all business dealings – ensuring a future where commerce and compassion move hand in hand.

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