NIRAJ DEMEL

Mr de Mel is a highly respected tea industry professional with nearly five decades of experience spanning
the entire tea value chain, including tea tasting, auctioneering, brokering, exporting, marketing, and industry
leadership. A Tea Taster by profession, he currently serves as Chairman of Ceylon Tea Brokers PLC (since
2022) and is the Founder and Head of a Tea Tasting Academy dedicated to developing the next generation
of tea professionals.
He served as Chairman of the Sri Lanka Tea Board from 2022 to 2024, having previously held the same
position from 2004 to 2005. Throughout his distinguished corporate career, he has held several senior
leadership positions within the tea export sector, including serving as Managing Director of three leading
tea companies, among them Van Rees Ceylon Ltd.
As an exporter and marketer, Mr. de Mel has travelled extensively across major tea-importing countries,
gaining deep insight into global tea markets, consumer preferences, purchasing behaviour, and evolving
tea consumption trends. His expertise encompasses both production and market dynamics, making him a
recognized authority on the international tea trade.
Mr. de Mel has also played a significant role in shaping Sri Lanka's tea industry institutions. In 2003, he
became the first Chief Executive Officer of the Tea Association of Sri Lanka (TASL), where he worked
closely with all industry stakeholder groups and led several key initiatives supported by Asian Development
Bank (ADB) funding. In 2006, he was appointed the first Sri Lanka Country Manager for the UK-based
Ethical Tea Partnership (ETP).
His industry leadership includes serving as Chairman of the Tea Exporters Association of Sri Lanka
(2011–2012) and Vice Chairman of the Colombo Tea Traders' Association in 2012. Over the years, he has
contributed to numerous tea-sector organizations and initiatives, earning widespread recognition for his
commitment to the sustainable growth and global promotion of the tea industry.