Ahmad Tea investment to move out of Sri Lanka

Tuesday, 29 May 2012

A key tea exporter in the country, Ahmad Tea is to move its planned tea packaging project worth US$ 200 million from Sri Lanka to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a senior official from the Tea Manufacturers Association told Lanka News Web.

The official said the company has decided to move out its million dollar project from Sri Lanka after a senior female official from Sri Lanka Tea Board had requested for a US$ 4 million bribe to approve the project.

She had informed officials from Ahmad Tea that permission could not be granted under normal procedures for the packaging of blended tea and that it would cost the company US$ 4 million to get special permission for the project.

Ahmad Tea has therefore decided to cancel the project in Sri Lanka and have commenced the project in the UAE.