29/09/2026
Newburgh Ella – The Tea Factory Resort, by Browns Hotels & Resorts, has been recognised by the National Cleaner Production Centre (NCPC), Sri Lanka, as the first hotel in Sri Lanka to achieve a certified paperless operation, marking a significant milestone in the country’s journey towards more resource-efficient and digitally enabled hospitality.
The certification was formally presented by Samantha Kumarasena, Director General/CEO of the National Cleaner Production Centre, Sri Lanka, to Mr. Eksath Wijeratne, CEO of Browns Hotels & Resorts, recognising Newburgh Ella’s achievement in establishing a paperless hotel operation.
The initiative has also been approached as a measurable resource-efficiency programme. Based on Newburgh Ella’s internal tracking of paper and stationery consumption and comparison with conventional paper-based hotel operations, the transition is estimated to avoid approximately 1.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent annually. The tracking covers key operational areas including front office, finance, food and beverage and administration.
The recognition by the National Cleaner Production Centre reinforces Newburgh Ella’s position as an example of how a heritage property can embrace technology and more resource-conscious ways of operating while preserving the character and stories that give it its identity.
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