Ceylon Tobacco Company

In 1905, the British Ceylon Government's leaf restraining infrastructure was reached out to a total takeover of all tobacco business activities in the country, including all made tobacco items like dumkola. Before 20th Century 90% of raw tobacco brought into the United Kingdom.

The Company started in 1906 and was owned by the British American Tobacco. Its first office was located in Prince Street, Colombo. By 1954, the company had become a Public Limited Company, company listed on Colombo stock market since 1950s. It's the earliest stock listed company in Sri Lanka. In 1980s Sri Lanka total tobacco crops increase to 15,594 ha. By 2010 it was producing 3.189 metric tons. The number of registered tobacco growers rose during the 1980s and most of the 1990s, but fell sharply in 1998 and 1999. It is estimated that tobacco growing provides between 5,355 and 16,580 full time equivalent jobs.

In 1997 cigarette manufacturing accounts for an estimated 89% of the value and 50% of the volume of all tobacco products sold in Sri Lanka. The 2018 survey found that 45.7% of men and 5.3% of women currently used tobacco.

CTC is the only legal cigarette manufacture and importer in Sri Lanka. The total marketable space is 5 billion sticks. The beedi market is around 2.3 billion sticks. According to the company it has 95% of the total market with 5% to illicit trade. BAT's decision to concentrate efforts on six Global Drive Brands has resulted in changes in CTC's brand portfolio, with newer brands like Dunhill and Viceroy being introduced over the past few years. Viceroy replaced Bristol which was the leading low price brand. Efforts to move consumers from Bristol to Goldleaf has retained 83% of their Bristol market segment along with 70% of volumes. JPGL and Pall Mall together brings 70% of the total sales.