COLOMBO (Dow Jones)--A delegation comprising top officials from Sri Lanka's Tea Board will visit Pakistan next week to expedite a proposed free trade agreement, the Daily News reports. The delegation will help pave the way for a conducive environment to finalize the contents in the FTA, especially issues regarding tea exports, it added.

Last year, Sri Lanka struck a similar deal with India, through which customs duties between the two countries will be eliminated over the next few years.

Dow Jones 18.04.2001

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Halwitigala tea factory managed by the Tea Smallholder Factories Limited, John Keells Group of Companies has shown vast progress in the production of quality teas last year.

The factory was able to keep its production to a satisfactory level obtaining top prices at the Colombo tea auction.

Last year this factory paid an average price of Rs. 25 for a kilogramme of green leaf for its suppliers obtaining a sale average of Rs. 168.25.

This tea factory uses a modern technology to increase productivity under hygienic conditions.

A duster system was also constructed at the withering section to overcome fatigue in employees.

Daily News 17.04.2001

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April 12 2001 was the 40th anniversary of man's advent to space - a heroic feat accomplished by a man named Yuri Gagarin who also told the world that Ceylon Tea is the drink of space age heroes.

Once asked at a student function in Moscow about his favourite drink, the Soviet Cosmonaut who had become the heart throb of the Moscow teens and hero of the world quickly replied, it was nothing else but Ceylon Tea.

A man present at the student meeting where Yuri Gagarin was an honoured guest was one time Moscow student and presently Russian language teacher in a Colombo school, author Oruwala Bandu. He still has cherished memories of the student meeting where Yuri Gagarin came to address them. Wrote Bandu recently in a Sinhala newspaper: " When the question was asked everybody thought he might reply "vodka".

I was elated when he said "Ceylon Tea."

So, that's how Yuri Gagarin made "Ceylon Tea" the brew of the space age heroes. But our own tea propaganda board for decades refused to take the cue from the world hero and market the aromatic Ceylon teas of the gardens swept by the cool breezes of the scenic hills of Lanka as the drink of the space age and its heroes.

Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin, the Ceylon Tea drinker, became part of human history, when he flew into space aboard Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961, becoming the first human to fly in space.

Daily News 16.04.2001

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"Tea is one of the beverages richest in antioxidants called flavonoids, and the absorbed forms of tea flavonoids might protect cells and tissues against oxidative damage associated with cardiovascular disease," stated Catherine Rice-Evans, Ph.D., Professor of Biochemistry, King's College, London, during an educational symposium titled "Sipping Tea for the Heart".

Research presented at the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Annual Scientific Session suggests that drinking black tea may be good for your heart. Leading scientists presented preliminary results from three studies that add to the growing body of evidence suggesting that the antioxidants in black tea may contribute to healthy cardiovascular function.

Lenore Arab, Ph.D., Professor of Epidemiology and Nutrition, University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, presented new epidemiological research that how black tea drinking may decrease the rate of heart attacks.

"We conducted a comprehensive review of 13 different studies to take a closer look at the association between tea and cardiovascular disease," said Arab. "Our findings, scheduled to be published in an upcoming issue of the American Journal of Epidemiology, suggest that the incidence rate of a myocardial infarction decreased by (an estimated) 11 per cent by drinking three cups of black tea per day."

The results of a recent study presented by Myron Gross, Ph.D., University of Minnesota, found that one of the ways black tea drinking may support cardiovascular health is by promoting healthy platelet function. Activated platelets contribute to endothelial damage and can lead to clots that cause myocardial infarction and strokes. "Based on our preliminary findings, daily consumption of black tea may help decrease platelet aggregation while increasing antioxidant concentration in the blood a double dose for your health," said Gross.

Fellow presenter Joseph A Vita, MD, Professor of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, discussed findings from his new study that found drinking up to four cups of black tea per day improved endothelial function in blood vessels of people diagnosed with coronary artery disease.

"Our results demonstrate that drinking tea reverses an important underlying abnormality of blood vessel function that is related to heart disease and stroke," said Vita. "The effects were visible as soon as (within) two hours of drinking the first cup."

These studies support the notion that tea drinking may play a positive role in a healthy diet. "While additional research must be done before we draw definitive conclusions, emerging findings are promising and there are still many reasons why people should include tea as part of a healthy lifestyle," said Douglas Balentine, Ph.D., leader of the Unilever Health Institute research program on the Health Benefits of Tea who chaired the symposium. "For instance, like fruits and vegetables, both black and green, hot and iced brewed tea contains natural compounds called antioxidants, which research suggests can neutralize cell-damaging free radicals."

Also presenting at the symposium was Mary Corretti, M.D., and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, who discussed the protocol for a clinical trial involving tea consumption and endothelial function following a high-fat meal. Results are expected later this year.

India has now to its credit the first Tea & Health Information Center in Asia. This Center has been set up in Bangalore by Hindustan Lever Ltd., the largest Tea company in the world. The Brooke Bond Tea & Health Information Center gathers latest information on internationally proven scientific data related to Tea & Health and disseminates it to consumers and media like. (16/04/2001)

Business Standard 16.04.2001

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Tea exports increased during calendar 2000 but price realizations dwindled substantially. In fact, the export performance was far from the target set for the year. Tea Board chairman N Das, referring to a quick estimate made by the Board, told members at their 178th meeting earlier this month that India exported around 197.83 million kg and earned about Rs 1742 crore, during January - December 2000, as against 191.72mkg worth Rs 1966 crore during the corresponding period of 1999.

Mr. Das pointed out that volumes had increased, but the value declined because of lower price realizations. The exports are also well short of the target of 210mkg set by the board for 2000.

The board, which is under the commerce ministry, has representatives of the tea growing states industry and unions.

A leading shipper here said Indian teas failed to edge out the cheaper produce from Sri Lanka and Kenya because of the lack of proper initiative and declining price trend in international markets.

Exports to the Russian Federation - the main destination for Indian teas - declined by about 5mkg during April - October 2000, from 55mkg during the same period in 1999.

On the region-wise performance, the Tea Board chairman said south India exported more by volume than north India, which produces higher-value teas. South India accounted for exports of 108.78mkg, while exports from north India declined to 89.05 Mkgs. during 2000. Mr. Das, expressing concern over the trends in north India, said efforts should be made to boost exports.

On imports, Mr. Das pointed out an erroneous figure that was published in the January 2000 issue of the Tea Board's monthly bulletin "Tea File."

The bulletin had said that during April to October 2000-2001 [sic], imports into India were 70,96,000 kg worth Rs 50,61,07,000 against 63,25,000 kg valued Rs 375,44,30,000 [sic] in 1999 - 2000. Mr. Das assured the board that quick action has been taken to rectify the figures.

The Financial Express 16.04.2001

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