Since the initiation of “Ceylon Tea” commercial cultivation way back in 1867, women has played a vital role to uplift it’s image for more than 150 years. Tea flush is still plucked manually by female workers. After publishing a news on 1st female estate manager in Assam, India, “Tea With Nipun” decided to bring you information on the 1st Female Assistant Superintendent / Estate Manager in Sri Lanka.

She is 28 year old Ms. Chaturika Rajapakse (third from left) has assumed duties as the first ever Junior Assistant Superintendent of the Queens Town estate in Hali Ella, Badulla (Uva Region Sri Lanka) under the Malwatte Valley Plantations from December 1 2016 (Yes by the time she was appointed, she was 26). Most females joining the estates would continue working in the administrative sector but Chathurika has been able to satisfy the board after just eight months of training.

This courageous young girl is a an old girl of Vihara Maha Devi Girls’ College, Badulla, she had a dream to join a predominantly male portfolio taking after her beloved father’s footsteps who was serving as a field officer in another estate. She is riding a motorcycle in a pair of trousers and shirt manning a workforce of 300 handling agriculture, administration and health and welfare aspects of plantation workers. She also encounters daily issues like strikes, climatic changes and converse in all three languages. She was trained under Former Queenstown estate Manager Late Mr. Mohan Ganapatti (second from right). Others in the picture are from left: Ledgerwatte Estate Manager Kasun Samarawikrama, Malwatte Valley Plantations Executive Director Tea Shanaka Samaradiwakara and (extreme right) Ms. Oosha Ganapathy.

As the administrator of “Tea With Nipun” I also had the honor of training under Late Mr. Mohan Ganapathy who’s standing on her left. That was at Eastern Tea Brokers based in Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2012. This was as a part of my academic program. He was the external supervisor for my final year research. But after all his supervision Mr. Ganapathy requested me to put Eastern Broker’s chairman’s name as the supervisor on my thesis for better recognition. What’s a sacrifice. So I am sure Chathurika must have been well trained by Mr. Ganapathy. Hats Off to Both of Them !

Anyway, I would like to Take This Opportunity to Congratulate Chathurika for Her Great Achievement !!

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References

1.More Info: http://www.sundaytimes.lk/161120/business-times/sri-lankas-first-female-sinna-dorai-217350.html

2. Image Source: http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2016/12/04/business/new-chapter-plantation-history