Six tea factories were shut this year so far – Minister

As many as 213 tea factories had been closed down due to various reasons since 1986, said Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Samantha Vidyarathna.

He told parliament that six of them went out of business this year.

From 2018, a total of 82 factories were shut, he said.

The reasons for their closure included management shortcomings, inadequate tea production, running at low capacities and government failures, he said.

The plantations ministry is taking measures to revive the tea industry from its present crisis, added Vidyarathna.