August 21, 2003	Thursday	Jumadi-us-Sani 22, 1424

COLOMBO, Aug 20: Sri Lanka tea prices were mixed at the latest auction on Wednesday, with low-grown teas falling for a third week while high growns rose on seasonal demand.

The anticipated gross sales average was 150.50 rupees per kg, compared to 149.04 rupees per kg last week, Forbes and Walker Tea Brokers said in a statement.

Prices were better for some for the Uvas on seasonally high quality, said Yishan Fernando at Forbes and Walker, referring to high-grown teas.

But Udapussellawas were lower by between five rupees to eight rupees per kilo, he said.

Brokers said low-grown volumes had still not recovered after floods that battered the south of the island in May.

He said there was demand from the Commonwealth of Independent States, Saudi Arabia and Turkey for low growns.

There were 6.1 million kgs on offer at this week’s auction, and 5.7 million kgs will come under the hammer next week.—Reuters