Sri Lanka, Oct. 16 -- When the New Vithanakande Tea Factory recently broke the Guinness World Record for their premium Ceylon Black Tea sold at the highest price of 125,000 Yen or USD 835 per kilogram at a Japanese tea auction, it didn't come in as a surprise for many. Ceylon Tea has earned global recognition for its distinct flavours and rich aroma and is a beverage celebrated the world over.

But whether plantation workers who handpick tea leaves in Sri Lanka's tea estates receive the same recognition has remained a question for over 200 years. Repeated exploitation and struggles have defined the greater part of the Malaiyaha community, who have blended rich traditions into the country's social and cultural fabric. Today, even though t...