Tea Board cuts red tape on tea exports
Laboratories of the Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) and the Industrial Technology Institute (ITI) have been used since late last year by the SLTB to check on samples of tea to ensure quality prior to export for those that seem urgent, SLTB Chairman Rohan Pethiyagoda told the Business Times on Thursday.
He noted that since the SLTB officials were not paid an increased allowance for work on the weekends they were unable to meet the demands of the exporters to provide reports in time.
As a result, this new interim measure was adopted until approvals are obtained to ensure the SLTB laboratory staff could be paid an allowance for work on the weekends.
In this regard, Mr. Pethiyagoda noted that they would be submitting a Cabinet paper which was currently being prepared.
It was noted that exporters were pleased with the move and that despite the cost they were interested in getting efficient work carried out at the SLTB.
Other measures were also being carried out by the SLTB to ensure that the institution could improve on its efficiency and deliver an improved service to exporters.
Mr. Pethiyagoda said that at times exporters were unable to send out their teas for over three months which is detrimental to the industry.