Michael De Zoysa

Recognized as a pioneer in the Tea Industry in Sri Lanka, Micheal De Zoysa (30 th September 1946 – 29 th September 2019) was an inspiring and knowledgeable key personality in the field. His passion and zeal in promoting Tea kept him actively associated with the industry even unto his demise. Upon completing his school career he joined Lipton, in 1966, as a trainee Executive, and retired, following an outstanding career, in the year 2000, as Managing Director of Unilever International Tea Division – Lipton/Brooke Bond. After Michael De Zoysa’s retirement, he remained actively involved in the tea industry as a mentor and consultant to numerous Tea- related events. He played a very significant role as Chairman of the Organizing Committee for nearly all the Colombo International Tea Conventions, which are recognized globally as the leading forum on tea. These conventions, conducted by the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association, have been held every four years since 1992, with the most recent one in 2017 celebrating the 150th Anniversary of Ceylon Tea. He had the unique distinction of having held the office of Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association for 14 tenures considerably more than any other Chairman in the history of the Association, during the period from 1983 to 1999. Known for his integrity, he was a buyer who never failed to pay a fair price for quality, whilst fostering trust and respect among producers. His contributions not only enhanced the trading environment but also supported the overall growth of the Tea industry in Sri Lanka.