National Event celebrating by the Ruhuna Ceylon Tea – 7th Edition of the Fresh Tea Festival at the Gatabaruwa Temple in Matara. Hon Mahinda Amaraweera, Minister of Agriculture and Plantation Industries attended the National Event on 24.05.2024. Hundreds of low grown tea growers each carried an offering of intricately arranged tea leaves on a ceremonial plate or a small sack of processed tea and accompanied by Geta Bera drummers and traditional dancers and they paraded through the city streets to the ancient Gatabaruwa Temple.