Tea output in November recorded 31.23 million kilogrammes (kg) against 27.95 million kg in the same month last year.

"Good agricultural practices such as fertilizer application are the main reasons for the growth," Sri Lanka Tea Board Director General H.D. Hemarathna told Reuters.

The tea board expects full-year output to end near last year's record high of 329.4 million kg.

Earnings from tea exports have risen 3.2 percent to $1.1 billion in the first nine months of 2011, the Central Bank's latest data shows. Earnings gained 16.1 percent to hit $1.4 billion last year.

Tea is one of the $50 billion economy's main foreign currency earners, along with remittances, garment exports and tourism.