HISTORY OF STONYCLIFF

The rails (Colombo/Badulla) run through Rosita Division Field No 01 & 02 of this estate and one of the most beautiful view of the Kotagala Tunnel is adjoining Field No 01 of this division. The Kotagala Railway Station could be reached just within 05 minutes from Stonycliff.

Dimbulla was one of the first areas to be planted after tea took over from coffee in 1870’s. The plantations most of them around 4500-5000 feet up in the hills provide a typical high grown tea which is of the finest character, rich in colour throughout the year. The first VP tea was planted in 1950.

Originally Stonycliff Estate was with 3 divisions, namely Stonycliff, Springkell and Taprobane and later 2 division of the famous Rosita Estate (namely Lochiel & Rosita) which was managed by George Stuarts Co., Ltd, was amalgamated.

Stonycliff Estate was originally managed by Ms.Whittals Estates and Agencies Ltd, and with the nationalization of estates in 1975, this estate was brought under the management of Janatha Estate Development Board. Again in 1992 George Stuarts took over the management with the privatization. In 1996 Lankem Tea & Rubber Plantations (Pvt) Ltd, took over and they are the managing agents of Kotagala Plantations PLC.