Vish-Govindasamy - Group Managing Director, Sunshine-Holdings

Watawala Tea Ceylon Ltd, a member of the Sunshine holdings group celebrated its outstanding achievements for the last year with a gala event on the 21st of April 2017 at the Grand Ballroom of the Galadari Hotel Colombo. 

Themed ‘One Team, One Spirit, One Goal’, the annual convention of the largest branded tea company in Sri Lanka was graced by Watawala Tea Ceylon Limited Managing Director Shyam Sathasivam, Chief Executive Officer, Surith Perera, Sunshine Holdings Group Managing Director, Vish Govindasamy, and key members of the Sunshine Group’s management team, distinguished guests, and employees.

Group Managing Director of Sunshine Holdings, the parent company of Watawala Tea Ceylon, Vish Govindasamy said: “I would like to congratulate all the winners who have been nominated for these coveted awards. The team has worked hard to achieve great growth and accolades, further strengthening its position in a highly-competitive industry.”

Watawala Tea Ceylon Limited dominates Sri Lanka’s tea category with the highest market share, positioning its three tea brands - Zesta, Watawala Tea and Ran Kahata, to appeal to different palates and consumer segments in the country. In 2016/17 financial year, Watawala Tea emerged as the No. 1 brand in the market in the market. 

Surith Perera, Chief Executive Officer at Watawala Tea Ceylon Limited said, “Both independent market research tracking surveys, Lanka Market Research Bureau (LMRB) and Nielsen Sri Lanka, declared Watawala Tea as the No. 1 Brand in the tea category in the year 2016/17.”

“As per Nielsen, we achieved a market share of 24.7%for Watawala Tea with total market share for the company being 35.1%.We as a team achieved,we overcame many challenges last year and excellent teamwork has helped us to take the best of Sri Lanka’s tea into international markets as well. Today we pay tribute to employees who have contributed to the growth of our company by walking the extra mile” he said. 

Watawala Tea has reiterated its leadership in the tea category with the latest recognition at SLIM-Nielsen People’s Awards with Watawala Tea being voted the country’s most loved hot beverage brand of the year.