Coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Qatar and Sri Lanka, Katara and the Sri Lankan embassy celebrated the heritage of Ceylon tea in a special tasting evening.
The Katara Cultural Village Foundation hosted a Ceylon tea tasting event on the evening of Tuesday (June 9) in Hall 32. The event was organised by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Qatar, in co-operation with the Qatari-Sri Lankan Business Council.
In attendance were HE Prof Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim al-Sulaiti, director general of Katara, and Roshan Sithara Khan Azard, ambassador of Sri Lanka to Qatar, along with a number of ambassadors, members of the diplomatic corps, representatives of official bodies, and guests interested in Sri Lankan culture and heritage.
The evening began with a welcoming address emphasising that Ceylon tea represents a rich heritage combining authenticity, craftsmanship, and quality. The address noted that the celebration coincided with International Tea Day and aimed to highlight the history of Ceylon tea and its global standing as one of the most famous teas in the world. The ceremony included the screening of a documentary film that traced the origins and development of Ceylon tea since the 19th century, showcasing the historical stages that contributed to its global prominence, as well as highlighting its economic and cultural role in Sri Lanka.
In her remarks, Ambassador Azard emphasised the special significance of this year’s celebration, coinciding with the 159th anniversary of the Ceylon tea industry and the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Sri Lanka and Qatar.
She explained that Ceylon tea continues to symbolise Sri Lanka’s resilience, innovation, and unwavering commitment to quality, noting that successive generations of Sri Lankans have contributed to the development of this industry and the maintenance of its global standing since the pioneering efforts of the Scottish tea planter named James Taylor in 1867.
She added that relations between Sri Lanka and Qatar have witnessed continuous development over the past five decades, encompassing trade, investment, aviation, tourism, education, employment, sports, and culture, affirming that the close human ties between the two peoples have formed a fundamental pillar of this distinguished relationship.
She added that choosing Ceylon tea to celebrate the Golden Jubilee of diplomatic relations reflects its symbolic values of hospitality, friendship, and communication between peoples, noting that tea has historically served as a means of fostering rapprochement, dialogue, and understanding between different cultures.
The event concluded with a tasting of a selection of premium Ceylon teas, along with an assortment of traditional Sri Lankan dishes and sweets, in an atmosphere that reflected the depth of the cultural and human ties between the State of Qatar and the Republic of Sri Lanka.