"We are proud to announce that we have the Covid-19-controlled environment status," said Akbar Brothers Group Chief Operating Officer (COO) Janek Jayasekara. A company with a heritage of marketing “Ceylon tea”, Akbar Brothers as a company has won the most coveted awards in Sri Lanka such as the Highest Foreign Exchange Earner, Best Sri Lankan Export Brand, Highest Value-Added Exporter – Tea Sector, Highest Foreign Exchange Earner – Tea Sector, and Best Sri Lankan Export. Akbar Brothers, being the most market-diversified exporter, has taken the high ground with the latest certification. "Technically called the ‘Covid-19 Safety Management System Certification’, an idea mooted by the Rotary was carried forward by SLSI and now we are in the process of being globally accredited and sponsored by Rotary. I thank this esteemed organisation in partnering with SLSI to make Sri Lanka safe and to support the national agenda for a V-shaped economic recovery," commented SLSI Director General/CEO Dr. Siddhika Senaratne. "In Sri Lanka, clusters emerge, but with strong management through identification, contract tracing, and treatment, the virus has been contained to be under 2,100 with a fatality rate of 0.3%, which we as Sri Lankans must be proud of. Neighbouring India crossed 20,000 with a fatality rate of 2.8%, whilst the US is recording 140,000 fatalities at a rate of 4.4%. Latest data reveal that the US will clock 200,000 deaths by 1 November this year, which has resulted in the economy contracting to -8% as per IMF," said Rotary Stop the Spread Project Director Dr. Rohantha Athukorala. “I have declared this project as the key national project for the year 2020/21 for Rotary Sri Lanka and the Maldives," noted new Governor of Rotary Ajith Weerasinghe. Incidentally, the project had been picked as early as April by Rotary International Global Foundation Chairman (2020/21) K.R. Ravindran who had personally nurtured the project that was featured at the Global Rotary Convention that reached over 100,000 Rotarians across 200 countries. "I am pleased to say that the certification practically helped Akbar Brothers align the three production entities to the new norms required as per the ‘Covid-19-Controlled Environment Certification’," said COO Jayasekara. "The certification also gives confidence for us to operate at the optimum level of efficiency practising the proper protocols of social distancing, Handwashing and wearing masks." Under the Akbar brand umbrella, the company offers a comprehensive product range of traditional black and green tea in packs and tea bags, together with flavoured and herbal teas as well as a variety of different packaging options that reaches over 200 companies globally.