Sri Lanka’s plantation sector faces continuous changes—new compliance criteria, stricter labour regulations, and growing global expectations on human rights due diligence. Behind every Fairtrade-certified product is a network of Fairtrade and Certification/Compliance officers working tirelessly to protect worker rights, uphold ethical practices, and turn community needs into meaningful projects.

For Hired Labour organizations (HLO), maintaining certification excellence demands more than compliance—it requires a deep understanding of standards, consistent documentation, and leadership capable of responding to emerging challenges. Yet frequent staff rotation and the arrival of new officers underscore the sector’s need for continuous, foundational training.

To support them, Fairtrade NAPP  gathered  24 officers—14 men and 10 women—from 05 tea and 01 flower plantations, covering both multi-estate and single-estate operations: Bogawantalawa Tea Estates PLC, Hatton Plantations PLC, Horana Plantations PLC, Madulsima Plantations PLC, Tropiflora (Pvt) Ltd, Kaley Natural Farms Pvt Ltd, for its 14th Annual Residential Awareness and Knowledge Creation Workshop—a residential learning experience held in Moratuwa.

Facilitated by Programme Manager A. Arutselvan and supported by expert external institutions, the three-day programme blended interactive sessions with practical, hands-on exercises. Participants engaged in a comprehensive curriculum spanning Fairtrade Generic and Product Standards, HL Compliance Criteria, and the fundamentals of HREDD—from conceptual grounding to real-world application. Officers gained proficiency in FairInsight reporting, documentation of Premium impacts, and analyzing recent non-compliances to develop preventative action plans.

The workshop further enhanced project management capabilities through modules on feasibility studies, risk assessment, and monitoring and evaluation. Complementing the technical content, the energizing three-part “Power Pack” motivational leadership series inspired officers to lead with purpose, confidence, and proactive engagement.

Immediate Outcomes

Post-training feedback highlighted significant advancements across key competency areas, including:

• Stronger understanding of Fairtrade regulations and compliance requirements
• Improved risk assessment and audit preparedness
• Enhanced project management, documentation, and communication skills
• Increased problem-solving ability and adaptability to evolving standards
• Greater confidence in mentoring new officers
• Strengthened cross-estate collaboration and peer learning

“This residential workshop was very useful and informative. The sessions were well-organized, and the practical examples and group activities helped me understand the concepts clearly.”

S. John Milton – Bogawantalawa Tea Estates PLC

“It was an excellent program. The lecture felt like watching a movie—easy to understand and engaging.” 

Prince Gunanayagaraj – Hatton Plantations PLC

Next Steps for Sustained Impact

To reinforce the momentum created, the following actions were agreed upon:

1. New officers will formally confirm their roles with management to strengthen compliance stability.
2. All participants will develop individual work plans outlining how they will bring added value to their estates.
3. Plantation management will identify and train second-line staff to ensure continuity in the absence of primary officers.

A Strategic Step Forward for Sri Lanka’s Plantation Sector

This workshop marks a pivotal advancement in strengthening Sri Lanka’s Fairtrade ecosystem. By building the competencies of plantations to reduce non-compliances, uphold certification integrity, and enhance labour conditions, Fairtrade NAPP continues to build a plantation sector rooted in responsibility and human dignity. With greater awareness of HREDD and the tools to implement global best practices, Sri Lanka’s plantations are better positioned to build a transparent, future-ready, and resilient Fairtrade environment.