It’s true that Ceylon Tea hasn’t got such a long history as Chinese tea. Tea was first grown commercially in Sri Lanka (Ceylon) by Scottish planter James Taylor in 1867. Eventually Ceylon Tea became one of the finest tasting teas in the world thanks to her overall, well balanced tasting profile with ideal strength, body, aroma and flavour. During this short history, Asia’s Sweetheart (Sri Lanka) had the honour of having legends who really contributed to the betterment of tea industry.  Mr. Abbas Akbarally is one of them. As Daily Mirror had reported, The Founder and The Chairman of Akbar Brothers (Pvt) Ltd., Deshamanya Shk. Abbas Akbarally (A Ceylon Tea Legend) passed away on 25th February 2020.   

His good self’s Janaza took place at Hussaini Masjid, Glenaber Place, Bambalapitiya and burial thereafter at Bohra burial grounds, Kuppiyawatta, Sri Lanka.

The Venture he created, Akbar Brothers is Sri Lanka’s number one tea exporter (In volume) for over twenty-five years.  

He was born on 31st January, 1933. His career began in 1951 working in the tea department of Hebtulabhoy & Company, a family company founded by his grandfather This legend was holding office as Chairman of Akbar Brothers from September 1, 1969 to-date.  He was the past president and an active member of the Colombo Tea Traders’ Association from 1951 to 2019.

He was also the Honorary Consul for The Heshemite of Jordan from July 2004 to 2015. 

He served the Bohra community as Mulla for several years and thereafter promoted as Sheikh.

In appreciation of his service to the people of Sri Lanka, former President Maithripala Sirisena honoured him with the title Deshamanya on March 20, 2017. This is the year when Sri Lanka celebrated 150th anniversary of Ceylon.

Late Mr. Abbas Akbarally with his two brothers Abid and Inayet established Akbar Brothers and currently Inayet Akbarally serves as the Managing Director of Akbar Brothers.  

He left his four children Tyeab, Asgi, Hatim and Mansoor and fourteen grandchildren. 

Mr. Abbas Akbarally contributed a lot to bring a huge sum of foreign revenue to the nation by exporting roughly 40 million kilos of tea each year.

An Article on Another Legend: http://www.teawithnipun.com/2019/10/19/honoring-late-navaratne-pilapitiya-founder-of-new-vithanakande-tea-factory/

View More Tea Articles + Latest News: https://www.teawithnipun.com/

References

1. Daily Mirror: http://www.dailymirror.lk/business-news/Akbar-Brothers-Founder-Chairman-passes-away/273-183776
2. Harvard Business School: https://www.hbs.edu/creating-emerging-markets/interviews/Pages/profile.aspx?profile=aakbarally