A tea plant was brought to Ceylon by the British from China and was planted in the Royal Botanical Gardens in Peradeniya for non-commercial purposes.

James Taylor marked the birth of the tea industry in Ceylon by starting a tea plantation in the Loolecondera estate in Kandy.

A fully equipped tea factory began on Loolecondera estate and the first sale of Loolecondera tea was made in Kandy. First tea shipment was arrived in london in 1873.

Production and exports of Green tea commenced.

Highest tea production of 340 million kgs recorded. SL is the fourth largest producer of tea in the world, and the second largest exporter. Around 20% of the teas sold around the world come from Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka completes 150 years in her Tea Industry.