By Neeraj Nanda
MELBOURNE, 21 May 2021: An evening organized by the Sri Lankan Consulate here and co-sponsored by the SriLanka Tea Board, to mark the International Tea Day, turned out to be refreshingly aromatic. At St. Kilda Road Cinnamon’s Restaurant, while the soft-spoken Consul General of Sri Lanka Kapila Fonseka welcomed the guests and introduced the subject, the aroma of Sri Lankan tea mesmerized those attentively listening to the virtues of Sri Lankan Tea.
Sri Lanka Tea or Ceylon Tea industry was initiated by James Taylor in 1867, a British planter who came in 1852. Since then Sri Lanka Tea is world-famous with an ever-growing fan following. Consul General Kapila Fonseka talked to South Asia Times:
Among the prominent people present to grace the evening included Victoria’s Sri Lankan origin Craig Ondarchie MP. Addressing the gathering he thanked the Consul General to make people meet with this program. Addressing those gathered S. P. Mohan, Manager Australia & New Zealand SriLankan Airlines explained the situation in the aviation sector and the SriLankan Airlines work approach during the pandemic and the flight situation. He said:
Sri Lanka Cricket Team’s former Captain Dilshan sprung a surprise by introducing the ‘ Dilshan’s Cup of Tea’ (Deavon Tea) Box which is being marketed in Australia and exported to many countries. The beautiful box has 120 pyramid Tea Bags in six varieties. No doubt the mix of cricket and Tea is a unique blend.
Dilshan says, ” Growing up in Sri Lanka means cricket and Tea are part of life. I was lucky to have the chance to follow my passion and to reach so many of my goals in the cricket world. I get to watch my passion for tea take the stage as I share some of my favorite Ceylon blends with you. I welcome you to have and let me pour you a cup.”
The evening of Ceylon Tea, side snacks, a Cricket genious blending with tea, and lovely people on a Friday evening, was a towering tribute to Tea on International Tea Day 2021.
