The coffee-rust fungus reached almost all coffee plantations across Ceylon in the 1860s, wiping out most of the coffee plants. Spelling the end of coffee as a major industry, planters were looking for another crop.

A Scot, James Talyor who arrived in Ceylon during this time, was put in charge of the new tea estate – Loolecondera Estate. After which tea planting was adopted and flourished in the island. Tea estates were maintained by British owned companies till the year 1971, when the Sri Lankan Government came up with the Land Reform Act, passing state control of the majority of plantations. Approximately 1/3 of the estates where handed to private owners. A massive restructuring programme was implemented to ensure the success of Tea as an industry in Sri Lanka with contributions and involvement of Sri Lankan and International Private Sector.

Tea is now one of the leading exports of Sri Lanka and its mark as Ceylon Tea is well known all over the world. The demand for Tea products from Sri Lanka is considerable, as Ceylon Tea is known as a quality product with distinct taste.