Spethmann also appreciated the commitment and the efforts of the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the tea trade in producing quality products. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 100 years anniversary celebrations of the German Tea Association which was held on 26th April in Hamburg.

During the event Ambassador Amunugama also met a number of other reputed tea importers in Germany including Monika Beutgen-Secretary General of the Tea and Herbal Infusions Europe and Reinhold Schlensok –CEO of the Teekanne Holding GmbH.

The Ambassador also invited the Chairman and the Executive Board members of the German Tea Association to attend the International Colombo Tea Convention scheduled to be held in August 2017. In response, Maximilian Wittig – The Secretary General of The German Tea Association stated that a strong delegation which would include himself and Monika Beutgen will participate at the upcoming event in Colombo.

Olav C. Ellerbrock, Honorary Consul of Sri Lanka in Hamburg who is a pioneering tea importer from Sri Lanka and a past Chairman of the German Tea Association also joined the discussions and elaborated the plans for the joint efforts with the Sri Lanka Embassy, German Tea Association and the Honorary Consulate in celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Ceylon Tea in Hamburg.