Rising fuel prices, food and fuel shortages, inflation, the legacy of the pandemic and the impact of the war in Ukraine have all played a role.Inside Sri Lanka's presidential palace after it was stormed by protesters
But the move led to the near-collapse of much of agriculture instead. Rice and tea production plummeted and the country was forced to spend hundreds of millions on rice imports to feed its people.The president resigned taking the heat out of the people-power uprising in Sri Lanka's capital for now, while politicians choose his successor - but inland in the hills of tea country the damage has been done.
Former deputy chairman of the Tea Planters Association of Ceylon Rajith Gnanasekera told Sky News one of the world's most iconic drinks could be lost forever while workers run out of food because of the mistakes of their government.
Corruption and incompetent power family politics have harmed Sri Lankan citizens who were originally rich in resources and blessed by nature, and even the Ceylon tea industry with a long history is facing a crisis!