Three Centuries, One Passion: Exceptional Ceylon Tea
Our Story
Our story began in 1904 when Sir Thomas Lipton established our tea factory in Sri Lanka's legendary Ruhuna region, near the majestic Gongala mountains. After flourishing for decades as part of Ceylon's golden tea era, the facility was later abandoned until 1999, when visionary entrepreneur E.P. Piyasena acquired the historic property and invested heavily in its complete transformation, giving birth to the modern Panilkanda Tea legacy that continues today
1904
Panilkanda Tea Heritage Begins
Sir Thomas Lipton's company established our tea factory in Sri Lanka's Ruhuna region, marking the beginning of what would become Panilkanda Tea. This historic foundation recognized the exceptional quality of highland Ceylon tea in the shadow of Gongala Hills.
1999
Modern Era & Expansion
E.P. Piyasena acquired and extensively renovated the historic facility, modernising Panilkanda Tea operations. Combining traditional Ceylon tea craftsmanship with advanced processing technology, this renovation marked our evolution into direct farmer partnerships and premium quality focus.
2012 - Present
Innovation Meets Tradition
Panilkanda Tea has revolutionized Sri Lankan tea farming with industry-first innovations: online green leaf procurement, farmer mobile apps, and advanced tea crate systems - while preserving the authentic Ceylon tea traditions established over a century ago.
THREE GENERATIONS. ONE VISION. GLOBAL IMPACT.
From E.P. Piyasena's Vision to Global Excellence
New Saman Group Private Limited was founded by visionary entrepreneur E.P. Piyasena with a core principle of giving back to the community while creating exceptional Ceylon tea. Today, his legacy flourishes through three generations of family leadership, each contributing unique innovations while preserving his founding values.
The second generation revolutionized our operations with groundbreaking innovations including Sri Lanka's first online green leaf procurement system and pioneering tea crate transportation. The third generation continues this innovation legacy by developing our revolutionary mobile app for farmers, bringing modern technology to traditional tea cultivation.
With nearly 200 dedicated team members including 5-10 loyal employees who've been with us since our 1999 rebirth we operate as one extended family. Together, we're working toward the third generation's ambitious vision: making Panilkanda Tea a recognized global brand while maintaining our deep roots in community development.
Our commitment extends far beyond tea production. We actively support local schools, hospitals, and infrastructure development including road construction and tree planting initiatives across our region. This comprehensive community support reflects E.P. Piyasena's original belief that business success should uplift entire communities.