Colombo Tea Traders’ charity auction raises over Rs.46mn

Ceylon Tea Traders Association’s charity auction in progress  PIX BY KITHSIRI DE MEL

The Ceylon Tea Traders Association’s (CTTA) charity auction held last evening raised over Rs.46 million.
The auction was carried out to coincide with Colombo International Tea Convention Conference 2024, which will kick off today. The proceeds will be credited to the account of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Charity Trust.
“This fund is raised very specifically towards uplifting the education standards of the children in the plantations. We want to develop 130 smart classrooms and offer them education in the English language,” CTTA Chairman Sanjaya Herath told Mirror Business while sharing an update. The charity auction showcased a selection of some of Ceylon’s finest teas, which included black teas from the diverse growing regions and artisan teas. 
The carefully selected teas were sold in an outcry auction, reminiscing a bygone era of tea auctions. A total of 39 lots were on offer from the seven tea growing regions.
The previous CTTA charity auction was held in 2017, where nearly Rs.74 million was raised.