May 9, 2002	Thursday	Safar 25, 1423

COLOMBO, May 8: Sri Lanka tea prices were soft at the latest auction due to a seasonal drop in quality in high and medium grown teas, brokers said on Tuesday.

The anticipated gross sales average was Rs144 per kg as against Rs145.11 per kg last week, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said.

Forbes and Walker in a statement said there was good demand from the Commonwealth of Independent States, Saudi Arabia and Turkey for low grown teas.

An estimated 6.3 million kg came under the hammer at the auction, while 6.1 million kg are expected to be on offer at the next auction on May 14/15.—Reuters