Warm and refreshing Ceylon Tea welcome for tourists from Ukraine

A much-awaited opportunity became reality after long discussions, negotiations, debates and deliberations with different stakeholders, when the first two tourist flight arrived in Sri Lanka after having shutdown for nearly a year due to the COVID outbreak worldwide. 

The Mattala Rajapaksa International Airport authorities made huge efforts to welcome the two flights consisting of tourists in compliance with operational formalities at the airport with special emphasis on COVID-related health formalities.

While the airport authorities made arrangements to welcome the tourists, Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Jayampathy Molligoda made arrangements to welcome the tourists with a cup of Ceylon Tea including traditional sweets and savouries. 

Further, well-choreographed cultural performances were organised related to tea for conveying the legacy of over 150 years of Ceylon Tea including Prashanthi, Tea Ceremony and Tea Pluckers Dance. The dance performance was done by Chandana Wickramasinghe and Dancers Guild. 

The Sri Lanka Tea Board realised that ancient cultures such as China and Japan have within their traditions a near-sacred ceremonial event with special manners and customs in brewing and serving tea among distinguished visitors but Sri Lanka does not have a tea ceremony of our own. Hence, the Sri Lanka Tea Board launched this concept in 2013, namely, a unique Ceylon tea ‘ceremony’ for Ceylon Tea with customs in brewing and serving tea among distinguished visitors.

The Ceylon Tea ceremony concept was based on the Sri Lankan hospitality within a setting of a king of Sri Lanka welcoming his noble audience of visitors and summoning the ladies of the court to proceed with serving the guests the finest Ceylon Tea and refreshments. The tea is served by damsels dressed in traditional ancient attire of a royal palace.

The objective of such a ceremony is to bring respect and appreciation to a beverage that has been cherished by the world ever since it was found over 5,000 years ago. This event was done in a stylish manner with graceful movement and rhythmic emphasis which is called ‘Prasasthi’.

In order to respect the beverage, the Ceylon Tea was ceremonially brought and served in a ‘pan kendiya’ accompanied with ‘manel’ flowers and incense sticks which were all synonymous with Sri Lankan traditions.

The Ukraine tourist team got a chance to enjoy traditional Sri Lankan sweet such as bibikkam, kalu dodol and savouries along with the Ceylon Tea. The Ceylon Dimbulla tea was freshly brewed and served to Ukrainian tourists by SriLankan Catering. During the Ceylon Tea ceremony performance by the dancers, the visitors were briefed on the history of Ceylon Tea, seven regional tea varieties, and the special taste and health benefits of tea.