The industry has long complained that funds raised from a cess on tea exports were being misused by the government and not spent to make improvements in the industry.
But now a CTTA representative had been included in the committee in charge of the funds collected from the tea export cess.
"I'm pleased to say that the Plantations Industries Ministry has just informed us that a CTTA representative will be included in the cess committee," Akbarally told the 113th annual general meeting of the Colombo Tea Traders' Association (CTTA).
The tea industry, one of the island's main exports and foreign exchange earners, had previously not been consulted on tea-related issues, even when taxes were increased, he said.
But the government now had a better appreciation of the industry's