Ceylon Tobacco Company

History

In 1905, the British Ceylon Government's leaf restraining infrastructure was reached out to a total takeover of all tobacco business activities in the country, including all made tobacco items like dumkola. Before 20th Century 90% of raw tobacco brought into the United Kingdom.

The Company started in 1906 and was owned by the British American Tobacco. Its first office was located in Prince Street, Colombo. By 1954, the company had become a Public Limited Company, company listed on Colombo stock market since 1950s. It's the earliest stock listed company in Sri Lanka. In 1980s Sri Lanka total tobacco crops increase to 15,594 ha. By 2010 it was producing 3.189 metric tons. The number of registered tobacco growers rose during the 1980s and most of the 1990s, but fell sharply in 1998 and 1999. It is estimated that tobacco growing provides between 5,355 and 16,580 full time equivalent jobs.

In 1997 cigarette manufacturing accounts for an estimated 89% of the value and 50% of the volume of all tobacco products sold in Sri Lanka. The 2018 survey found that 45.7% of men and 5.3% of women currently used tobacco.