A discussion was held on 17.06.2020 with the Estate Owners’ Organization with regard to the basic salary that is received by the estate workers and the issues that are currently faced by them.

A request was made by the Secretary of the Ceylon Workers Congress Jeewan Thondaman and Deputy Chairman of the Congress Senthil Thondaman to increase the basic salary of Rs. 750 to Rs. 1000 with additional grants of price share supplement, productivity incentive, and attendance incentive.

In addition, Former Minister Mahindananda Aluthgamage made a statement of how much focus should be put into the increase in the basic salaries of estate workers.

As a final decision was not taken with regard to this, Rajapaksa advised the relevant authorities to give a proper solution to this and the decision will be finalized at a meeting under the Prime Minister’s patronage scheduled to be held on the 25.06.2020.

Ministers Ramesh Pathirana, Mahindananda Aluthgamage, Secretary to the Prime Minister Gamini Senarath, Representatives of Ceylon Congress, Secretary to the Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Ministry Ravindra Hewawitharana, Secretary to the Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development Ministry D.P.G Kumarasiri, Director General of the Public Enterprises Department Athula Kumara, Chairman of the Janatha Estates Development Board B.D Abeysooriya, Chairman of the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation Srimal Wijesekara, Chairman of the Ceylon Tea Board  Jayampathi Molligoda, Chairman of the Horana / Talawakele / Kelaniweli (Hayleys) Plantation Companies Dammika Perera, Chairman of the Mathura Plantation Company Kithsiri Gunawardhana, Chairman of Kahawatte Plantation Limited Meril.J. Fernando, Chairman of the Talakele / Kelaniweli / Horana Plantations Limited A. M Pandithage and a group of estate owners and representatives were present at this discussion.

Courtesy: Colombo Gazette

Minister of Plantations and Export Agriculture, Ramesh Pathirana said that the Government is confident an agreement will be reached by 1st March.

Speaking to reporters today, Pathirana said that the plantation companies have proposed three models to resolve the issue.

The plantation companies are proposing a productivity based wage model, which they say has proven to be successful.

They have also sought some government assistance in order to pay the Rs. 1000 daily wage and ensure the industry does not collapse as a result.

President Gotabaya Rajapaksa had proposed that the daily wage of plantation workers be increased to Rs. 1000 by 1st March.

Plantation companies have informed the government that an unfair push to pay Rs. 1000 to plantation workers could have a serious impact on the local industry.

Pathirana said that the Government is prepared to step in temporarily to help the companies pay the Rs. 1000 daily wage to the estate workers.

Courtesy: Colombo Gazette

The houses were handed over to the beneficiaries jointly by Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe and High Commissioner of India to Sri Lanka Taranjit Singh Sandhu in the presence of Palani Digambaram, Minister for Hill country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development.

Several Members of Parliament and Central Provincial Council, senior officials from Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT), Implementing Agency – Sri Lanka Red Cross, Bogawanthalawa Regional Plantation Company and a large number of people from the region attended the function.

Funds worth 135 million rupees were allocated for the new housing scheme. Each housing unit has been constructed in 7 perches of land. Comprising with all infrastructure facilities, the housing scheme was built under the Green Villages concept of the government.

High Commissioner in his remarks on the occasion, congratulated the proud owners of the newly built independent houses. He underscored that the Indian Housing Project in Sri Lanka with a grant of over US$ 350 million (close to Rs. 50 billion), was the largest Indian grant assistance project in any country abroad. He also recalled that out of the total commitment of 63,000 houses, 47,000 houses had already been built.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in his remarks thanked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Government of India for the development support extended to India.

Expressing India’s support for realization of Sri Lanka’s developmental priorities, he reiterated Government and people of India’s commitment to participate with the people of Sri Lanka in their journey towards greater peace and prosperity.

Courtesy: Colombo Page