The 2^nd International Tea Day Conference:

Kandy, Sri Lanka

As a co-founder of the International Tea Day, the Institute of Social Development, Sri Lanka, volunteered to initiate and propagate the activities pertaining to the organizing of the Second International Tea Day commemoration in Sri Lanka. The main objective in holding the International Tea Day in Sri Lanka is to strengthen the global solidarity initiated by the declaration of the International Tea Day, and to achieve the objectives highlighted in the ITD declaration, in order to safeguard the labour and social rights of the tea plantation workers and small growers, globally and internationally, and enlighten all the global stakeholders on tea plantation workers. 

The commemoration of second the International Tea Day is to commence with declaring the opening of the Sri Lankan Plantation Community Archive, established by ISD, in close location to the city of Kandy.     

The 2^nd International Tea Day Conference will span two days and will be held in Kandy. Trade union representatives and invitees from NGOs, who work on the rights of tea plantation workers and small growers, from India, China, Kenya, Malawi, Uganda, Zambia, Argentina, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Nepal and Sri Lanka are to participate in the conference

 In the two day conference, participants are to present country reports covering

1. The plight of Tea plantation workers in relation to labour and social security Rights

2. Situation of Tea small growers 

3. Situation of the Industry under the context of globalisation

4. Role of trade unions and other stakeholders (WB, WTO, ADB, TNC)

5. Submission of research reports on the International commodity agreement covering major tea producing countries.

6. Outline strategies to take forward the ITD Universal declaration in order to make the advocacy recommendations more specific and targeted

Following the two day conference, a public rally will be held at Hatton in which the general public from the plantation community would be the focal point and participation from all plantation districts will be encouraged through mass media propaganda. 

The success of the 2^nd International Tea Day Conference is to lead to the following short term and long term objectives;

Short Term objectives

1. Declaring the common memorandum based on the resolution passed by the participant  countries

2. Submitting a memorandum to the Sri Lankan Government and other stakeholders highlighting specific issues of the Sri Lankan plantation workers and small growers.

3.      Forming a National Committee, with representatives from all spheres, including the trade unions and small growers and civil society representatives, to engage with the  major issues raised in the declaration.

4. Commitment by participants to plan and carry out country level campaigns on  the issues set out in the International Tea Declaration

5. Link up the campaign with International campaigns such trade justice, and ethical trade.

6.  Emergence of consumer and workers solidarity

7.  Formation of International Advisory committee

8. Emergence of a joint International Tea Day campaign and advocacy strategy and action plan detailing specific and targeted recommendations.

Long Term Objectives

1. Recognition of International Tea Day by the UN

2. Formation of strong regional and international Trade Unions and NGOs coalition to safeguard the rights of Tea plantation workers as well as small growers  national, regional and international

3. Formation of shadow International tea committee/commission

4. Creation of International Tea Commodity Agreement Hence, the upcoming 2^nd International Tea Day Conference in December 2006 will no doubt be a crucial event which would further the cause of tea plantation workers and small growers.