About Us – Lankem Tea & Rubber Plantations (PVT) Limited

Welcome toAgarapatana Plantations!

Presently, Sri Lanka has established itself as the world’s second largest tea exporter in terms of USD revenues in 2021, and Ceylon Tea holds an esteemed position among tea connoisseurs worldwide. At Agrapatana Plantations Limited, we take immense pride in our contribution to this illustrious and historically significant industry, which continues to flourish despite numerous challenges.

As we reflect upon the extraordinary journey of Ceylon Tea, from its humble origins to its current global eminence, we remain resolute in our commitment to safeguard and propel this rich legacy forward. Agarapatana Plantations Limited embraces the complexities of the modern era while remaining deeply rooted in our heritage.

With our dedicated workforce and the ingrained resilience within us, both as a business and as a prominent participant in this pioneering art, we hold unwavering confidence that the future holds limitless opportunities for Ceylon Tea.

Our company owns plantations situated in the Agras Valley and Uva regions of Sri Lanka. Among our notable properties is the historic Dambatenne Estate, located in the Badulla district of the Uva province, spanning an elevation range from 1509m to 1936m above sea level. Dambatenne is intricately intertwined with the history of Ceylon Tea. It played a pivotal role in the establishment of the Lipton Tea Empire and, consequently, in shaping the enduring legacy of Ceylon Tea when Sir Thomas Lipton acquired the estate in the 1890s and retained ownership until his passing off in the early 1930s. Teas from Dambatenne continue to be highly sought after under the distinguished “Bandara Eliya” garden mark, evoking the same allure as in the days of Sir Thomas Lipton.

Vision

To be the foremost producer of High-Quality Tea in full conformity with desired quality requirements

Mission

To produce the highest quality Tea whilst protecting and preserving the environment and safeguarding the interest of the community with whom we work, improving our asset base, developing our employee base and providing value to our shareholders.

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Established year

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Employess

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Estates

Rs. 0 bn

Annual Turn Over

Objectives

To lead the way in the technical and innovative development of the Tea industry and operate with responsibility towards society and the community.

Core Values

INTEGRITY

COURAGE

COMMITMENT

Our Journey

1992
2019
2019
2019
2019
2019
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2022
2023
2023

1992

Agarapatana Plantations Limited was incorporated

2019

Since 2019, all factories and gardens within the company have been certified by the Rainforest Alliance, except for Glenanore and Gonamotawa, which primarily engage in the manufacturing of Bought Leaf sourced from Small Holders.

2019

Starting from 2019, all factories have obtained ISO 22000:2018 certification.

2019

Mechanical harvesting was successfully implemented

2019

Mechanical harvesting was piloted.

2019

All factories and gardens obtained Rainforest Alliance
certification, except for Glenanore and Gonamotawa which are mainly
manufacturing bought leaf, sourced from small holders.

2022

Acquired Waverley Power (Pvt) Ltd

2022

Uva Region is currently selling above the elevation since the Financial Year 2022.

2022

As confirmed by the Sri Lanka Tea Board, APL has risen to the impressive rank of No. 5 in the High Grown category among all Regional Plantation Companies, based on the cumulative average price as of December 2022.

2022

According to confirmation from the Sri Lanka Tea Board, as of December 2022, APL has achieved the remarkable position of No. 1 in terms of tea volume sold at the Colombo Tea Auctions among Regional Plantation Companies in the High Grown Category.

2022

The current financial year, 2022/23, has seen the group achieve its highest recorded profitability to date, reaching LKR 1.9 billion as of December 31, 2022.

2022

Successful implementation of mechanical harvesting took place in 2020/21, with the company having mechanized harvesting cover approximately 22% of the total extent as of December 31, 2022. The company aims to increase this efficiency to the optimal level of 30% during the financial year 2023/24.

2022

As part of the company’s Renewable Energy strategy, Waverly Power (Pvt) Ltd was acquired in September 2022. Waverly Power operates as a mini-hydro power plant, supplying electricity to the National Grid of the Ceylon Electricity Board.