• 22.05.2025 - 19:24

The Embassy of Sri Lanka in Ankara actively participated in two significant events in Türkiye to celebrate
International Tea Day (21 May). A new kind of diplomacy, Tea Diplomacy, in practice.
 
These celebrations offered the Embassy an opportunity to showcase Sri Lanka’s rich tea heritage and
cultural traditions to international audiences. On 20 May 2025, the Embassy participated in a festivity in
Istanbul, hosted by Beta Tea, which featured traditional Sri Lankan dance and a Ceylon tea heritage stall. 
The following day in Ankara, the Embassy took part in the event demonstrating Tea Culture in the Asia-
Pacific by the spouses of Ambassadors from the Asia-Pacific Region.  Both events highlighted by live
Ceylon tea demonstrations and Sri Lanka’s signature tea flavours.
 
The event, held on 20 May 2025 at Istanbul’s historic Beta Yeni Han, was organized by Beta Tea in
collaboration with the Sri Lanka Embassy to mark the tea celebration. Beta Tea – one of Türkiye’s largest
tea companies, founded with roots in Ceylon tea importation, hosted the festival, reflecting the
longstanding tea ties between Sri Lanka and Türkiye. The Embassy’s stall showcased Sri Lanka’s tea
heritage, allowing visitors to learn about its history and traditions.
 
Two talented Sri Lankan dancers, Ms. Vishmi Manage and Ms. Aparna Heeanatigala, Medical students at
Tbilisi State Medical University in Georgia took the stage in traditional costumes and delighted the
audience performing pooja dance, Gajaga Wannama and a folk dance.  
 
Sri Lanka’s Ambassador to Türkiye, Hasanthi Urugodawatte Dissanayake, attended the event and, in her
address, highlighted the richness and global recognition of Sri Lanka’s tea culture, noting that events like
these enhance cross-cultural appreciation and friendship. She also emphasized Ceylon Tea’s unique
qualities, pointing out that it is known as the world’s cleanest tea, produced through ethical and
sustainable practices.
 
On 21 May 2025, the Sri Lanka Embassy participated in the “Tea Journey in Asia and the Pacific” event in
Ankara, hosted by the Ankara Asia-Pacific Group of diplomats’ spouses to mark International Tea Day.
The gathering, held at the Residence of the Saudi Ambassador, brought together representatives from 21
countries in the Asia-Pacific region – each presenting a national tea pavilion where guests could
experience authentic tea rituals, unique brews, and cultural displays. This cultural tea celebration
demonstrated tea’s unifying role, enhancing dialogue and friendship among the diverse nations in
attendance.
 
Sri Lanka’s pavilion, organized by the Embassy, offered attendees a taste of Ceylon tea along with
insights into the country’s famed tea traditions and history. A special highlight was the presence of Mr.
Manoj Samarasinghe from the Sri Lanka Tea Board, to conduct live Ceylon tea brewing demonstrations
and share unique tea-based recipes and paring of different types of teas with food, with the audience.
The event drew a high-level turnout reflecting strong support for this tea-inspired cultural initiative.
 
As a nation synonymous with tea, Sri Lanka views these International Tea Day engagements as an
opportunity to practice “tea diplomacy” – using its world-renowned Ceylon tea as a medium of cultural
exchange and goodwill.
 
The Embassy’s active involvement in the Istanbul and Ankara events underscores Sri Lanka’s commitment
to promoting its rich cultural heritage and building people-to-people connections through tea. By sharing
the story and flavour of Ceylon tea on the global stage, Sri Lanka continues to strengthen bilateral ties

and international appreciation for its heritage, reaffirming the role of tea as not just a key export
commodity but a warm bridge between nations.