About the Organisation

Horana Plantations PLC a Fairtrade-certified multi-estate plantation nestled in the lush highlands of Sri Lanka, is a pioneering force in sustainable agribusiness with a legacy rooted in excellence since its incorporation in 1992. Listed on the Colombo Stock Exchange in 1996, the plantation has grown into one of the country’s premier plantation companies, managing 14 verdant estates over 6,519 hectares—primarily cultivated with tea and rubber on government-leased land.

Three of these estates carry Fairtrade certification: Alton, Stockholm and Gouravilla, set in the high tea country of Maskeliya in the Nuwara Eliya District. Certified in 1997, Horana Plantations was one of the earliest plantation companies in Sri Lanka to join the Fairtrade system. The company is a subsidiary of Vallibel Plantation Management Ltd and is managed by Hayleys PLC, Sri Lanka's largest diversified conglomerate. Today it provides direct employment to 3,591 people, more than half of them women at 53.48 percent, and its work supports the livelihoods of over 29,000 people living on and around the estates.

With a strong commitment to ethical and environmentally conscious practices, Horana Plantations earned its Fairtrade certification in 1997 and now proudly supports 876 employees across 1,035.97 hectares of Fairtrade-certified land. Boasting a total tea production potential of over 4.6 million kilograms, the organization also holds organic certifications, reflecting its dedication to quality, sustainability, and global standards. The plantation continues to blend tradition with innovation, elevating Sri Lanka’s agricultural heritage on the world stage.

The certified tea grows at elevations of around 4,000 feet, and the harvest cycle runs from April to March, so plucking continues throughout the year. In the harvest year ending 2025, the certified estates produced 711.858 metric tonnes of Fairtrade made tea. The fresh leaf is processed at tea centres certified under ISO 22000:2018, among them Alton, Stockholm and Gouravilla, whose rooftops now carry rows of solar panels. Alongside its Fairtrade and organic credentials, the company holds Rainforest Alliance certification, is a member of the Ethical Tea Partnership, is certified under ISO 14001:2015 for environmental management, carries carbon footprint verification and has earned UNFCCC Climate Neutral Gold status. Its Fairtrade teas reach international buyers including Van Rees, Adam Expo and Stassen Natural Foods (Pvt) Ltd.

Collective Leadership, Transparent Governance

What makes Horana's model so impactful? Democratic governance. Projects begin at the grassroots, through committee discussions, surveys, and focus groups. They are planned transparently, monitored collaboratively, and reviewed inclusively. This model reinforces community ownership and ensures projects respond to real, felt needs.

The Fairtrade Committees are:

• Stockholm Estate
• Alton Estate
• Gouravilla Estate

Each committee brings together a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, divisional representatives and management representatives, all elected by the workers at the Annual General Meeting. The committees meet once every three months to review proposals, decide and vote, so every project can be traced back to a show of workers' hands.

The fund itself moves with Fairtrade sales: the estates received USD 9,967 in 2023, USD 40,160 in 2024 and USD 10,971 in 2025. Whatever the year brings, the money is pooled and directed by the workers themselves.

Transforming Period Poverty into Empowerment: The “She Essentia” Project

Among Horana’s most impactful stories is the She Essentia Project—a powerful example of how Fairtrade Premium can rewrite the future for women and girls in plantation communities.

For years, period poverty silently eroded the confidence, health, and income of women workers and schoolgirls. Without access to affordable disposable sanitary products, many were forced to miss work or school, risking their education, productivity, and dignity.  The She Essentia project broke that silence — and sparked a movement.

The She Essentia project is a shining example of how Fairtrade Premium funding can directly address and solve critical issues affecting the well-being of workers and their families.

What She Essentia Did

• Created a sanitary napkin production unit and disposal unit on the Alton Estate
• Distributed over 1,800 reusable sanitary pads to women and girls (234 in Alton, 1,380 in Gouravilla)
• Collaborated with the Women’s Development Centre (WDC) in Kandy for awareness sessions and product co-design
• Offered menstrual hygiene and nutrition education, benefiting over 254 women and girls
• Started 29 home gardens, helping women grow their own nutrient-rich vegetables
• Employed six local youth at the production unit, providing an alternative to field labor

Impact Beyond Pads

• 96% of surveyed women workers now see themselves continuing with Horana Plantations over the next two years
• 78% stated that the action positively impacted the occupational safety and health of women workers. They could stay in the field and continue working without needing to come home and change pads. Their spending on sanitary pads had also been reduced
• Menstrual health is no longer a taboo, with sessions also held for men on sanitation and support
• Health and Hygiene: Access to safe, clean sanitary products has greatly improved the health and well-being of the women and girls in the estate. Reusable sanitary napkins, which are both eco-friendly and cost-effective, have helped to reduce the risk of infections and promote better menstrual hygiene.
• Education Continuity: Girls no longer miss school due to menstruation, leading to lower dropout rate.
• Social Impact: By normalizing conversations about menstrual health and providing tangible support, the She Essentia project has empowered women and girls to speak openly about their needs and challenges, creating a more supportive and informed community.
• Economic Freedom: Female workers can work uninterrupted, improving their income and contributing fully to the community.
• Sustainability: The use of reusable products cuts down waste, aligning with Horana’s commitment to eco-conscious living. This long-term solution contributes to both environmental and economic sustainability.

One mother shared,

“It helped our daughters. We could not come to the factory, but they gave it to us in the field. That made all the difference.”

A youth worker at the production unit, added,

“It’s not just a product. It’s a solution — one we’re building together.”

The accessibility of the sanitary pad has been crucial for many, with a community member sharing,

"It was easy to use, and it helped the children as well.”

Distributing pads directly to the field was particularly helpful for workers with busy schedules. A field worker mentioned,

“We could not come and buy it from the factory due to the time. We have to work and can’t come here to buy the pad. It was distributed in the field first."

Working at the production unit has been fulfilling for many individuals. A worker expressed,

"It is good work," highlighting the positive experience of being involved in the production process. The growth potential was also recognised, with a worker stating, "If we work towards that, we can improve the production and earn money.“

This project has not only addressed a critical health issue, it’s sparked a cultural shift, placing women’s voices and needs at the center of development.

Few voices carry this story better than that of C. Chandramathi, who has plucked tea at Alton Estate for more than fifteen years and now serves as Vice President of its Fairtrade Premium Committee, all while raising three daughters, the eldest of whom is studying graphic design.

"Women are considered the backbone of the tea industry, as the leaves we carefully pluck each day become the quality tea enjoyed around the world."

- C. Chandramathi, Vice President, Fairtrade Premium Committee, Alton Estate

"The additional Fairtrade funds and support are invested in the development of our estate communities. These include important areas such as education, healthcare, clean drinking water, housing improvements, and women's empowerment programmes."

- C. Chandramathi

"Fairtrade provides me with a sense of security and confidence. It gives us the assurance that our voices are heard and our needs are considered."

- C. Chandramathi

Read C. Chandramathi's special interview here.

Health, Learning, and Well-Being: Building Stronger Futures

Across all the certified estates, the Fairtrade Premium has created ripple effects of progress:

• Medical screenings and an operational Fairtrade ambulance ensure health isn’t a privilege but a right.
• Educational support through school stationery distribution lightens the financial burden on families and encourages lifelong learning. Over 500 children received school supplies, easing the burden on working parents and promoting lifelong learning.
• Celebrations of Women’s Day and Children’s Day bring joy, recognition, and unity to communities that often go unheard.

Learning That Stays on the Estate

Fairtrade certification also opens the door to training and exchange. In recent years, workers and their representatives have taken part in training on labour laws and Fairtrade Standards, dedicated sessions for union leaders, training for Fairtrade Premium Committee members, and the Fairtrade Young Naturalists Programme, which draws estate youth into hands-on learning about the natural world around them.

Sowing Seeds for Tomorrow: Environmental Initiatives

With Rs. 148,550 allocated to tree planting and reforestation, the estates are healing the land for the next generation. These green corridors not only restore biodiversity but also serve as a living legacy of the community’s pledge to fight climate change—rooted in the soil of shared responsibility.

Sustaining Livelihoods, One Step at a Time

Economic empowerment is at the core of the Fairtrade model. In 2024:

• Rs. 5.8 million was allocated to support workers with festival loans, essential food packs, and upskilling programs.
• Through Fairtrade projects, women and youth found alternative employment, contributing meaningfully to their households and gaining financial independence.

A Future Rooted in Fairness

Horana Plantations PLC isn't just producing tea. It's cultivating fairness, one initiative at a time. As the company looks ahead, future Fairtrade Premium projects will focus on:

• Building sanitation infrastructure in the fields
• Training women and youth to lead future health and hygiene programs
• Expanding environmental and nutritional initiatives
• Continuing to foster a workplace that is both gender-sensitive and family-friendly
• Establishing a Study Excellence Centre to offer educational support and learning opportunities to the children of estate worker families, in the Fairtrade certified gardens and beyond.

None of this happens against an easy backdrop. The estates face a growing labour shortage as fewer young people choose plantation work, and shifting rainfall patterns, prolonged dry spells and sudden heavy rains now shape each season's harvest. It is exactly this landscape that makes the workers' steady, collective investments matter all the more.

Because when dignity is harvested alongside tea leaves, when girls stay in school, when women lead solutions,  entire communities begin to thrive.