Time for tea in Sri Lanka at UHI North, West and Hebrides
UHI North, West and Hebrides makes ‘time for tea’ as it receives British Council funding for a Tea Heritage Project in Sri Lanka
Opening this summer, an exhibition hosted in St. Coombs Estate in Talawakelle, will explore Scotland’s vital role in shaping Sri Lanka’s world-famous tea industry - a partnership dating back to the 19th century.
At the heart of this project is a collaborative effort between UHI North, West and Hebrides and the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka. UHI North, West and Hebrides researchers Dr Lalith Welamedage and Dr Katie Murray will interview former tea planters and their families, uncovering first-hand accounts from those who lived through this period. The interview recordings will be housed at the Highland Archives, part of High Life Highland, preserving these stories for future researchers. The team will also work with the Tea Research Institute to collect rare artefacts, books, artworks, and photographs from Sri Lanka’s tea estates, preserving these treasures for future generations.
Dr Laith Welamedage, Associate Researcher with UHI North, West and Hebrides, said: “Working with the Tea Research Institute gives us a valuable opportunity to bring Scotland’s historic ties to Sri Lanka’s tea industry to life and highlight the shared stories that connect the two countries.”
Dr Shyamantha Bandera, Senior Research Officer at the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka, said: “Being a planter was a respected profession and many of the estate managers and their families from abroad built beautiful bungalows and created works of art which have been maintained to the present day. This exhibition is a great opportunity to help preserve some of this modern history of the tea industry that is still so important to the Sri Lankan economy.”
The exhibition, part of the Tea Research Institute’s centenary celebrations, will be a powerful tribute to the lasting bonds between Scotland and Sri Lanka.
Orlando Edwards, British Council Sri Lanka Country Director, said: “I am thrilled that the CTC Grant Programme has attracted such a rich and diverse portfolio of applications – proof of enduring historic ties. As a graduate of a Scottish university, a big fan of tea, and of the hill country and the Highlands and Islands, I especially look forward to the fruition of this UK/Sri Lanka arts collaboration. Fostering cross-cultural exchange through visual and oral storytelling help to create lasting relationships for future generations.’’
St. Coombs Estate in Talawakelle is a picturesque tea plantation founded in the 1880s and named after a Scottish fishing village—the exhibition will showcase rare artefacts, photographs, and archival records, highlighting the untold stories of Scots who helped maintain Sri Lanka as a global tea powerhouse.
Scotland’s profound connection to Sri Lanka’s tea heritage was cemented in 1867 when Aberdeenshire’s James Taylor planted the island’s first large-scale tea crop. Over the years, generations of Scots worked on Sri Lanka’s tea estates, contributing to a thriving industry that remains a cornerstone of the Sri Lankan economy. But what most people don’t know is that the legacy of Scotland’s involvement extends beyond just business; it includes a rich cultural exchange and deep personal connections that shaped both countries.
The exhibition will offer visitors a rare chance to witness the deep, intertwined history of Scotland and Sri Lanka through tea. It promises to appeal to tea enthusiasts, history buffs, and anyone curious about the global stories behind their favourite brew.
This ambitious project is set to showcase the beauty, tradition, and enduring significance of Sri Lanka’s tea industry - and the shared heritage that links it to Scotland - making it a milestone moment in cultural exchange.