Fadna Tea teaming-up with local universities to produce and export herbal teas

By Hiran H.Senewiratne

A pioneer company in Sri Lanka’s herbal tea industry, Fadna Tea (Pvt.) Ltd., has taken the initiative to manufacture and market tea products that have been researched and developed by Sri Lankan universities. This also enables those universities to earn a 3 percent income out of the company’s total profits.

‘We are now working with several universities, especially with Colombo, Sabaragamuwa and many other universities and are supporting their research and development efforts by manufacturing and marketing their research products to local and export markets, said Fadna Tea (Pvt.) Ltd. Managing Director Chamendra Somatunga.

‘The company recently launched a capsule for cancer patients, which is a cancer cell destroyer known as ” Vernolack”. The significance of this product is that it attacks only the cancer cells and is a 100 percent herbal product researched and developed by Prof. Sameera Samarakoon, attached to the Colombo University, Somatunga told The Island Financial Review.

Samathunga added: ‘The company introduced several new products, such as “Diabe Tea-Sabaragamuwa”, a joint pain reliever “Orthoshield” and a hair location oil, “Satiny “. These new products have been researched and developed by various universities subject to their patents.

‘Fadna introduced the concept of sharing the natural goodness of conventional beverages with the world and now brings its own functional herbal tea products by preserving their natural goodness, while conforming to international standards.

‘These products use 100 percent natural ingredients to maximize their benefits for patients suffering from blood sugar-related disorders.

‘The products are developed in collaboration with the Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development Operation (AHEAD) and with the Faculty of Applied Sciences at the Sabaragamuwa University.

‘ Sabaragamuwa University Vice Chancellor Senior Professor Udaya Rathanayake and his team continuously engage in these types of product development ventures and the launching and commercializing Diabe Tea-Sabaragamuwa is a great initiative as well as a motive for upcoming projects. We expect to do these types of projects with Fadna and other companies for the betterment of society.

‘Innovation associated with problem- solving is vital for the development of societies and countries. Commercializing products that are born out of these innovations not only opens up new avenues for people, especially those suffering from blood sugar-related disorders, to adopt healthier lifestyles, but also supports the local economy.

‘Fadna products are exported to many destinations across the world. With these great strides,

Fadna will be expanding its production domain to the USA as a joint venture to promote Cultural tea out of pure Ceylon tea. ‘

The Fadna factory is located at Depanama, Pannipitiya, which has an internal and an outsource staff of more than 200 personnel.