With its latest strategic buyout, Browns Investments fortifies its status as Sri Lanka’s — and the world’s — largest tea producer, while reinforcing its commitment to sustainability and global expansion.
In a landmark move set to reshape the landscape of Sri Lanka’s plantation industry, Browns Investments PLC, the investment arm of the diversified LOLC Group, has acquired FLMC Plantations (Pvt) Ltd for LKR 4.8 billion. The deal, finalized on May 5, 2025, was executed via a Share Sale and Purchase Agreement with Damro Manufacturing (Pvt) Ltd and Piyestra Furniture (Pvt) Ltd.
FLMC Plantations functions as the holding and managing company for Pussellawa Plantations Ltd (PPL) and Melfort Green Teas (Pvt) Ltd, managing more than 11,500 hectares of agricultural land across 24 estates. These properties span Sri Lanka’s most iconic tea-growing regions—Pussellawa, Udupussellawa, Nuwara Eliya, Kandy, Ruhuna, and Sabaragamuwa—producing 4.3 million kilograms of made tea and 2.3 million kilograms of rubber annually.
“This strategic acquisition reinforces our long-standing vision of expansion and diversification,” said Kapila Jayawardena, Group Managing Director/CEO of LOLC Holdings PLC. “With the integration of Pussellawa Plantations and Melfort Green Teas, Browns Investments significantly enhances its capacity to produce and export premium-quality tea globally, further securing our leadership in agriculture and plantations.”
The acquisition aligns with Browns Investments’ broader strategy to consolidate its presence in the agribusiness sector. It complements the Group’s existing holdings in Maturata Plantations Limited, Udapussellawa Plantations PLC, Hapugastenne Plantations PLC, and the recently acquired Tea Smallholder Factories PLC. With FLMC Plantations onboard, the company’s annual tea production in Sri Lanka rises to an impressive 17.5 million kilograms, cementing its position as the country’s largest tea producer.
On a global scale, the LOLC Group has emerged as the world’s largest tea producer and exporter, boasting an annual production of 100 million kilograms across operations in China, Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania. International subsidiaries include Browns Plantation Guizhou Tea Company Limited, Browns Plantations Kenya Ltd, Limuru Tea PLC, and Browns Plantations East Africa and Rwanda.
Beyond production capacity, Browns Investments emphasizes sustainable development as a core component of its business model. The company aligns with the United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Sustainable Development Goals, particularly in climate change mitigation, environmental conservation, and workforce upskilling.
This acquisition not only underscores the Group’s relentless pursuit of scale and quality but also signals its long-term commitment to shaping the future of the global tea industry—through sustainable growth, regional leadership, and a global footprint powered by vision and innovation.