Dushanthi Liyanaarachchi on 22 Years of Dedication to Ahmad Tea

This month, we were delighted to interview Dushanthi, who is responsible for our order processing department in our Emirates production hub. She has been working with Ahmad Tea for 22 years and, during that time, she has committed to growing and developing her colleagues, who benefit from her experience and nurturing personality. Dushanthi’s family owns tea gardens in Sri Lanka, and her passion for the industry was instilled from a young age. Over to you, Dushanthi—we can’t wait to find out more about your passions and insights on the tea industry.

Please tell us about your job?

I was born in Sri Lanka, a tea-growing country, so I’m proud that I’ve continued to work within the tea industry and have seen it thrive. My uncles owned tea gardens, so the tea industry is part of my DNA. I have tea running through my veins!

I joined Ahmad Tea’s Sri Lankan office in September 2002 as a junior secretary. My initial role involved coordinating orders from Ahmad Tea’s factory in Sri Lanka and liaising with shipping companies. My main duties included ensuring that all the documentation was correct from a legal perspective.

After 5.5 years working at the Ahmad Tea office in Sri Lanka, I moved to the United Arab Emirates to join the accounts team under Mr. Parag. In 2012, I moved to the order processing unit and became the departmental head. It’s a challenging role, but I really enjoy it, and I am grateful for the opportunities it brings.

We work with sales, marketing, and finance teams to plan production, organise shipping, ensure we have enough capacity in our warehouses, and that we have all the appropriate legal documents.

What are the biggest challenges in your role?

In my role, we face many challenges: political, geographical, and economic. At the moment, we’re adapting to the conflict in the Red Sea, which is impacting incoming shipments and receiving materials. We constantly monitor our supply levels to ensure we never run out of tea! I enjoy figuring out new ways of doing things when I’m faced with a crisis.

What part of your job do you find most enjoyable?

I love mentoring other people. I always organise one-to-ones with my team to understand what motivates them to succeed. I love knowledge sharing. I strive to instill positivity within my team and give them the skills to grow. I feel it is my community duty to make people’s lives better and, when they are having a hard time, show them that there is light at the end of the tunnel. I always tell my team that everyone makes mistakes, but the key is understanding the mistakes so that we learn from them.

What trends are you seeing in the tea industry?

Tea is a very traditional drink. However, recently we’ve witnessed the explosion of bubble tea, which is enticing a new generation of tea drinkers. Also previously, tea was something to quench your thirst, but now we’re seeing people drinking tea for the benefits it offers.

What’s your favourite thing about working at Ahmad Tea?

I enjoy the challenge of making the factory more efficient and meeting customer needs while maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.

What’s your preferred choice of tea?

My favourite tea is a classic Ceylon tea. Its rich flavour and aroma always remind me of home and my family’s tea gardens in Sri Lanka.

Talk about something you do outside of work?

Outside of work, I love spending time with my family. I think I get my mentoring skills from nurturing my younger siblings as well as my daughter. I really enjoy engaging with people, helping them to grow into better individuals, and helping them learn from my own experiences. My daughter is training to be a psychologist, and I’ve learned a lot from her.

What does winning the King’s Award mean to you?

Winning the King’s Award is a tremendous honour. It represents our commitment to excellence and the hard work of every team member at Ahmad Tea. It’s a recognition of our dedication to quality and customer satisfaction. I’m proud to be part of such an esteemed company and look forward to contributing to its continued success.