Amidst Sri Lanka’s rolling tea fields, where mist meets mountain and livelihoods depend on the delicate balance of nature, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC (TTE PLC) is redefining what climate leadership looks like on the ground.
As a pioneer in sustainable plantation management, TTE PLC has long recognized that the future of Sri Lanka’s tea industry depends on resilience - not as an aspiration, but as a necessity.
Rising temperatures, erratic rainfall, and soil degradation have already begun to reshape the country’s highlands and lowlands alike, threatening both productivity and community wellbeing.
In response, TTE PLC has transformed these challenges into drivers of innovation - embedding sustainability, technology, and community engagement into the heart of its operations.
It is this proven commitment to climate action and long-term sustainability that has led to Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC’s appointment as Patron of the Climate Emergency Task Force of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka (Network Sri Lanka).
The recognition affirms the company’s position as a national leader advancing renewable energy, water stewardship, biodiversity conservation, and low-carbon transformation within Sri Lanka’s private sector.
“Climate change is no longer a distant threat but a daily reality for our tea plantations.
If Sri Lanka’s private sector does not act boldly, the future of our industries and our communities will be at risk.”
- Krishna Ranagala, General Manager - Sustainability and Quality Systems Development, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC.
Climate on the Ground
The impacts of climate change are shaping the operational landscape of Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC.
In the high-grown regions, erratic rainfall and intense downpours cause significant damage to estate roads and factory infrastructure, while rapid surface run-off accelerates soil erosion and nutrient depletion.
Extended dry periods further reduce soil moisture, compromising plant health and productivity.
In the southern low-country estates, rising temperatures contribute to worker heat stress, and the frequency of flash floods has intensified, damaging crops, housing, and estate facilities.
Stagnant water following heavy rains has also heightened the risk of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria.
“These are not projections for the future - these are disruptions we face season after season,” observes Ranagala.
“We are compelled to adapt in real time, which is why climate resilience and proactive adaptation are central to our strategy.”
To address these realities, TTE PLC implements extensive reforestation, soil and water conservation, rainwater harvesting, and watershed protection initiatives - reinforcing sustainable tea cultivation and strengthening regional water security.
Why Talawakelle Leads
It is this consistent leadership in embedding sustainability into business practice that led to Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC being chosen as the Patron for the Climate Emergency Task Force of the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka.
The recognition reflects decades of investment in renewable energy, carbon management, water stewardship, biodiversity conservation, and social development.
“The Patron role is both recognition and responsibility,” says Ranagala.
“It means we must lead by example but also extend a hand to our peers so that climate action is not fragmented but shared.”
For TTE PLC, addressing climate change extends beyond regulatory compliance - it forms the foundation of the company’s long-term existence.
Sustainability is viewed not as an obligation, but as a strategic imperative.
Without a sustainable approach, there can be no enduring future for Sri Lanka’s tea industry.
Innovation with Accountability
TTE PLC’s climate action strategy is defined by measurable impact and transparent accountability.
In 2024 and 2025, the company’s renewable energy generation exceeded 30,800 GJ, significantly reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
Across estates like Radella, Palmerston, and Somerset, micro-hydro projects generated about 7,975 MWh of clean power for 2024/25, while solar installations on factory rooftops supplemented the grid and reduced costs.
The company also maintains a comprehensive greenhouse gas inventory, externally assured by independent experts.
In the most recent reporting cycle, the inventory recorded 23,431 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, marking a 7% reduction year-on-year.
TTE PLC became the first Sri Lankan plantation to assure climate disclosures under the SLFRS S1 and S2 standards - placing it ahead of global compliance requirements.
“We do not simply act. We measure, we disclose, and we hold ourselves accountable,” Ranagala notes.
“That is how we build trust with customers, investors, and employees alike.”
In 2024 and 2025 alone, TTE PLC invested over LKR 58 million in projects spanning reforestation, water security, and energy efficiency.
The company’s waste management initiatives reduced 1,823 kg of estate waste, reinforcing the principle that circularity and resource efficiency must go hand in hand with climate resilience.
Communities at the Centre
A defining feature of TTE PLCE approach is that climate resilience is community-driven. Estate families are not passive beneficiaries but active co-creators of solutions.
Women from the local beneficiary communities were directly consulted in the design of household rainwater tanks, ensuring that their perspectives on water access, storage, and daily use shaped the infrastructure.
“These design choices may seem small, but they determine whether projects succeed or fail,” says Ranagala.
Community-run nurseries now supply seedlings for large-scale reforestation campaigns, generating supplemental incomes while strengthening local ownership of environmental initiatives.
Home gardens, supported through training and inputs, have improved food security and diversified nutrition in estate households, reducing dependency on external markets during climate shocks.
Digital tools also support behavioural change.
Workers and families engage in WhatsApp groups that share updates on waste segregation, water-saving practices, and upcoming trainings.
“Inclusivity is what makes our climate initiatives effective and lasting,” Ranagala emphasizes.
Technology and Regenerative Agriculture
Technology has become a cornerstone of TTE PLC’s sustainability strategy.
Drones are deployed to monitor crop health and apply agricultural inputs with precision, minimizing chemical use and protecting surrounding ecosystems.
IoT sensors across estates monitor soil moisture and microclimate conditions, enabling data-driven decision-making that enhances efficiency and resilience.
Complementing these advances, regenerative agricultural practices restore ecological balance.
Composting and mulching improve soil fertility and water retention, while agroforestry and shade-tree planting protect tea bushes from heat stress.
These approaches also contribute to carbon sequestration, positioning tea estates as natural carbon sinks.
Rainwater harvesting systems ensure reliable water supplies during dry spells, while integrated watershed management strengthens ecosystem resilience - safeguarding both crop productivity and household water security.
Building a Culture of Responsibility
At Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, sustainability is not an initiative - it is the foundation upon which the company operates.
Every decision, from investment planning to daily factory management, is informed by the belief that business growth must advance hand in hand with environmental and social wellbeing.
Employees at every level, from field workers to senior managers, are trained to integrate sustainable practices into their work.
Waste segregation, energy efficiency, and water conservation are part of daily routines rather than separate campaigns.
Leadership mentoring ensures that younger staff - including women in technical and supervisory roles - carry forward this culture of accountability and stewardship.
Transparency is integral to this approach.
By aligning with international reporting frameworks and subjecting climate disclosures to external assurance, TTE PLC reinforces both credibility and trust within global markets.
As Ranagala notes, “Our strength lies in the integrity of our data and the consistency of our actions.
Every initiative is measured, verified, and communicated with honesty.”
Participation with Network Sri Lanka
Participation with the UN Global Compact Network Sri Lanka has amplified TTE PLC’s sustainability journey.
The Network has provided technical guidance supporting the company’s alignment with international climate disclosure standards and greenhouse gas accounting.
Equally valuable has been the opportunity for peer learning.
Sharing experiences with other industries has broadened TTE PLC’s perspective, while allowing the company to demonstrate that the plantation sector can be at the forefront of innovation.
“Network Sri Lanka has given us not only tools and guidance, but also a collaborative platform to transform climate ambition into measurable action,” says Ranagala.
“It allows us to bring our estate-level innovations to a national platform, and in turn, we learn from the approaches of other industries.”
This cross-sectoral dialogue transforms isolated projects into systemic change - strengthening Sri Lanka’s collective capacity to meet global climate goals.
Looking Ahead
Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC’s climate roadmap reflects both ambition and action.
By 2030, the company aims to secure year-round water availability for both cultivation and communities, ensuring resilience against prolonged droughts.
By 2035, regenerative agricultural practices will be fully integrated across all estates, making sustainable farming the operational standard.
By 2050, TTE PLC is committed to achieving net-zero emissions - aligning its journey with the global 1.5°C pathway.
Already, substantial progress underscores these commitments. Investments in low-carbon infrastructure, renewable energy generation, and water security are reshaping how the plantation sector approaches sustainability.
These are not abstract ambitions - they are measurable transformations visible across TTE PLC’s estates.
From verified carbon accounting to micro-hydro and solar installations, the company demonstrates that environmental leadership can coexist with business profitability and social progress.
Through innovation, collaboration, and a deep sense of responsibility, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC is not only securing the future of Sri Lanka’s tea industry but setting a national benchmark for climate-smart growth.
A Call to the Private Sector
Ranagala is candid about the stakes.
“Bold climate action is not only a responsibility but a business opportunity.
Those who act decisively will unlock new markets, investor confidence, and employee loyalty.
Those who hesitate will be left behind.”
For Sri Lanka’s private sector, their journey offers a blueprint.
The plantation sector has historically been perceived as vulnerable, but TTE PLC demonstrates that vulnerability can be transformed into resilience through foresight, investment, and collaboration.
As Patron of the Climate Emergency Task Force of Network Sri Lanka, TTE PLC’s role is not limited to advancing its own agenda but to convening dialogue and collective action across industries.
By sharing data, case studies, and lessons learned, the company helps accelerate the country’s transition toward climate resilience.
“No company can face this challenge alone,” Ranagala concludes.
“But together, through collaboration and knowledge-sharing, Sri Lanka’s private sector can drive resilience, unlock opportunity, and position our country as a leader in sustainable growth.”
Final Reflection
In the misty highlands and sunlit lowlands of Sri Lanka, the tea bush is more than a crop.
It is a livelihood, a heritage, and a symbol of national identity.
By reimagining how tea can be grown sustainably in the age of climate change, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC is ensuring that this symbol endures for generations to come.
Through its leadership, the company proves that climate resilience is not a burden but a pathway to competitiveness, credibility, and community wellbeing - setting a benchmark not only for the plantation sector but for Sri Lankan business at large.