Plantations

Centuries of soil, generations of craft.

The plantation sector comprises three public quoted plantation companies—Kegalle, Maskeliya and Namunukula—managing diverse estates across Sri Lanka. Together with Maskeliya Tea Garden, our export marketing arm, we bring Ceylon's finest produce to global markets under the flagship brand St. Clair's.

Kegalle Plantations PLC (KPPLC) was among those Companies that received 21 Estates, encompassing a total land area of approximately 10,000 hectares across Kegalle, Kurunegala, and Badulla Districts. Out of this total land area, roughly 3,900 hectares are dedicated to Rubber cultivation, 1,300 hectares to Tea, and another 520 hectares to Coconut. The Company produces about 3 million kilograms of Rubber and 1.4 million kilograms of Tea, which includes crops purchased from external sources. It employs a workforce of 4,033 individuals.

Kegalle Plantations Rubber Sector is capable of manufacturing Sole of crepe rubber and centrifuge latex. Kegalle Plantations is the highest producer of rubber in Sri Lanka at the moment.

Rubber tapping process in Kegalle Plantations — Rubber tapping in progress at Kegalle Plantations, Sri Lanka's highest producer of rubber.

Maskeliya Plantations produces an impressive 8 million kilograms of High Grown teas annually. High Grown teas (cultivated above 1,200 meters or 4,000 feet) are generally considered the premium tier of Ceylon tea due to the cooler climates slowing down bush growth, which concentrates the flavor profiles within the leaves.

To cater to a wide spectrum of international buyers—from premium boutique blenders to large commercial distributors—the company utilizes three primary manufacturing styles:

Orthodox: The classic, time-tested method where whole leaves are rolled and gently broken, preserving delicate floral and brisk top-notes.
Rotorvane: A semi-automated processing system that intensifies extraction, perfect for bold, rich breakfast blends.
Leafy: Specialty manufacturing focusing on producing larger, stylish black tea particles heavily favored in Middle Eastern and European markets.

Maskeliya highland tea estates overlooking a misty lake and mountain range — Maskeliya highland estates — mist-covered mountain ranges and the iconic reservoir nestled among lush tea terraces.

The sheer scale of Maskeliya Plantations is evident in its massive land asset management. The company commands a total land base of 10,560 hectares spread across the most fertile, mist-shrouded districts of Sri Lanka's Upcountry region.

Out of this sprawling acreage, 5,344.84 hectares are actively cultivated with tea bushes. The estates are strategically divided across four premier agro-climatic zones, each contributing a unique flavor profile to the final harvest:

Bandarawela (3,925 Ha): Located in the Uva region, known for its seasonal exotic, aromatic character driven by dry, blowing winds.
Upcot (2,568 Ha): Situated in the classic Western High Grown district, yielding smooth, robust flavors.
Maskeliya (2,548 Ha): Positioned near the iconic Adam's Peak mountain range, providing excellent soil conditions and regular rainfall.
Talawakelle (1,519 Ha): Renowned for producing some of the brightest, most intensely colored liquors in the country.

While black tea remains the undisputed king of Maskeliya's operations, the company embraces agricultural diversity to maximize its rich mountain soils and build economic resilience. By moving beyond a monoculture model, the estates have successfully integrated premium alternative crops that thrive in the cool upcountry climate:

Coffee: Tapping into the surging global and domestic specialty coffee trends.
Pears: Cultivated in high-altitude zones suited for temperate fruits.
Mandarin: Capitalizing on the microclimates of regions like Bandarawela to bring sweet, fresh citrus crops to market.

Behind every kilo of tea shipped worldwide is a massive, dedicated labor force. Maskeliya Plantations is a vital socio-economic anchor for the hill country, directly employing 5,800 workers (with a wider resident community relying on the estates for housing, healthcare, and education).

Namunukula Plantations PLC (NPPLC) can proudly claim as the 2nd highest Oil Palm producer in Sri Lanka, maintaining a significant market share from our golden crop. In addition to the cultivated areas of Oil Palm, we have a strategic investment with two other Joint Venture associates which process Oil Palm, namely AEN Palm Oil Processing (Pvt) Ltd. As a result of our forward integration envision, this investment helps ensure a reasonable price for the Oil Palm crop and assurance of a buyer by eliminating the market monopoly that existed at the time.

Lush oil palm plantation managed by Namunukula Plantations PLC — Namunukula Plantations' thriving oil palm estates, contributing as the 2nd highest producer in Sri Lanka.

Maskeliya Tea Gardens Ceylon Limited, the tea marketing arm of the Richard Pieris Group, offers high-quality Ceylon teas to local and international markets. Its renowned brands St. Clair’s Tea, Maskeliya Tea, and Padamata Kahata Tea serve diverse consumer preferences, from premium blends to everyday favourites. Sourced from our own plantations, all products meet strict quality standards and carry globally recognized certifications such as GMP, HACCP and ISO 22000:2018.