Acting High Commissioner in Pretoria Priyangani Hewarathna met United Nation’s Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in South Africa Nardos Bekele Thomas on 09 March 2020 at the UN Office in Pretoria.
During the discussion, Ms. Hewarathna briefed Ms. Thomas regarding Sri Lanka High Commission’s new initiatives to promote “Ceylon Tea” in South Africa and proposed to Co-host a “Tea Event” in collaboration with UN office to mark the International Tea Day, which falls on 21 May 2020.
Ms. Bekele Thomas happily accepted the proposal and thanked the Acting High Commissioner for the proposal as such an event will create a venue for all tea producing countries to share their “tea cultures” and enhance cooperation among business too.
Further, the UN Resident Coordinator offered her official residence to host the event and suggested to organize the event in the 1st week of June 2020 by considering upcoming, pre-scheduled events.
Acting High Commissioner Hewarathna thanked Ms. Bekele Thomas for her generous offer for the venue and promised to send initial concept note to be sent to the participants and invitees.
Commercial Secretary to the High Commission Sanjeewa Bandara also attended the meeting and assigned to coordinate the event with relevant officers at UN office, Pretoria.
The High Commission will share more details of the event with Sri Lanka Tea Board and relevant parties in Sri Lanka in due course.
