Features

Court Orders on the Plantation Wage Issue

Published

2 years ago

2024/08/4

by Anura Gunasekera

On May Day, flanked by plantation sector legislators representing the Ceylon Worker’s Congress( CWC), President Wickremesinghe announced the increase of the plantation worker daily wage to Rs 1,700.00. His will was legitimized by a gazette notification signed by Manusha Nanayakkara, Minister of Labour. Twenty one plantation companies, collectively, filed a petition before the Court of Appeal, seeking the invalidation of the said gazette, on the basis that the unilateral and arbitrary decision by the minister violated the legal principles of natural justice.

On July 4, a three-member Supreme Court bench issued an interim injunction order, preventing the implementation of the said gazette. Clearly, the court considered that the plea by the plantation companies had merit. The latest court ruling, along with the two others delivered on the recent election-related petitions, is more egg on the president’s face.

On July 10 minister Nanyakkara has issued a gazette notification, canceling the earlier determination. However, the plantation companies, who are contesting the issue in court, had not been informed officially of this step.

Fools, they say, rush in where angels fear to tread- a highly overworked cliché but perfectly descriptive of most of our politicians who tend to lose all sense of proportion, propriety and credibility when wooing the vote base before an election. For Wickremesinghe, the man who lost (including his own seat) in the Colombo district in the 2020 general election – the first such defeat suffered by the United National Party since Independence- garnering the plantation vote in case he actually contests the presidency- is of paramount importance. Minister Nanayakkara, indebted to President Wickremesinghe for his cabinet portfolio, is enthusiastically promoting the latter’s personal agenda with the CWC.

There are 44 Wages Boards, including the Tea Export Trade and the Tea Growing and Manufacturing Trade, currently operational in Sri Lanka. All those boards cover industries, inhabited largely by manual and blue-collar workers, occupying the lower levels of our socio-economic order. Whilst almost all the minimum wage determinations of the other boards are lower than that of the Tea Growing and Manufacturing Trade, and none of the relevant workers enjoy free-of-cost facilities such as housing, child-care, sanitation, water service and basic medical care, as plantation workers do, it is the plantation worker that the president has selected for special attention. To that list of in-house services should be added estate welfare societies, cooperative societies and, on many plantations, library facilities, language training centres and IT training centres for plantation youth.

The above is not to say that the plantation worker does not deserve a wage increase, but to emphasize that in determining a living wage, workers in all industries merit equal consideration, especially in the context of current escalations in living costs. The cost of living and the hierarchy of needs, particularly at the lower socio-economic levels of society, whether in Dambulla, Nuwara Eliya or Moneragla, vary only minimally.

The National Living Wage, determined by the State, was Rs 43,080 in June 2022, when the USD exchange rate was Rs 360. At that stage an ordinary agricultural worker’s monthly household income was, reportedly, Rs 39,617, whilst the average tea estate sector household income was said to be Rs 46,865 per month.

The plantation companies have now offered a package of Rs 1,350 per day, with Rs 150 of that being contingent to a minimum attendance, coupled with an increase of Rs 10 (from Rs 40 per kg to Rs 50 per kg) on the over-kilo rate. However, at a recent meeting between Minister Nanayakkara and the concerned parties, the former had insisted on Rs 1,350 basic wage per day plus allowances, unashamedly inching his way back to the original promise made to CWC leader, Jeevan Thondaman. This must also be a rare instance in our political and industrial history, when a senior cabinet minister is acting as the delegate of a trade union in a wage dispute between the union and the employer.

Leaving all other factors aside, this craven desire to curry favour with Thondaman does not make much political sense, as the CWC is no longer the force it used to be in the plantation sector. The captive, plantation community vote base is now fragmented, consequent to the outward migration of plantation residents to employment outside. Add to that the general loss of relevance of all trade unions in the lives of plantation residents. Since the time of great-grandfather Saumyamoorthy Thondaman, trade-unionist-cum-negotiator par-excellence, the CWC presence in the plantation sector has steadily eroded, with the exception of a few pockets in Kotmale, Nuwara Eliya and Badulla, maintaining a bare semblance of the old dominance.

The late Saumyamoorthy Thondaman achieved more for the plantation worker than any other plantation trade unionist, through clever negotiation, honourable interaction, and the pragmatic acknowledgement of mutual requirements. His diplomatic soul would have cringed at the ugly theatrics and thuggery, which seem to be the only weapons of persuasion in the arsenal of his descendant.

In an earlier writing on the same issue (Politics and the Plantation Wage- Sunday Island, June 30), I dealt with the wide-ranging adverse impact that this enforced wage increase would have on the plantation industry in totality. An erosion of industry competitiveness, arising from unmanageable costs, will hurt the lives of at least two million people, equivalent to about 10% of the country’s population.

The declaration of an unsolicited wage increase, whether as an inducement to woo a potential vote-base or as an off-the-cuff solution to economic challenges, ignores the wider, national socio-economic impact. Plantation wage revisions significantly impact other sectors, especially those linked to agriculture. Firstly filtering down to areas in close proximity to the plantations, impact of revisions eventually reach regions which are non-contiguous.

The sectoral impact of a plantation wage increase, though immediately non-quantifiable, have far-reaching consequences, especially in food cultivation. That apart, the wide ranging public debate stimulated by the revision – particularly when the matter is before the Supreme Court – has an inevitable ripple effect, and becomes highly cogent in the demands made for salary revisions in other employments.

A State-mandated wage increase in a privatized industry sector, is in complete contradiction to the stated policy of a government, which claims to follow market-based reforms. It is also a move which is certain to discourage potential investors, both local and foreign. A country which desperately needs foreign investment for the revival of a wrecked economy, cannot afford the imposition of illogical, politically driven policy changes, with adverse socio-economic potential.

Whilst the Regional Plantation Company sector is far behind the smallholder segment, in terms of tea/rubber production, its stability and sustainability is important for the plantation industry for a number of reasons unconnected to production volume.

The RPC sector, with its direct connectivity with the primary regulatory bodies covering the plantation industry, remains the sophisticated and representative official voice of the industry. Unlike the amorphous small-holder segment, the RPC sector is structured, completely protocol driven, supports industry-wide international certifications and is instrumental in guiding industry-related research and development. It is a fact that the most of the scientific studies of the Tea Research Institute, are first tested commercially in the RPC sector plantations.

The Planters’ Association of Sri Lanka, the officially acknowledged voice of the producer sector, comprises largely of RPC sector representatives. And that is the official body, which represents producer interests in every issue which impacts the plantation industry. The RPC sector also actively promotes plantation heritage and tourism, which reinforce the image of Ceylon tea, internationally.

It is also the RPC sector, that provides the leadership and the role-model example for sustainable plantation agriculture, which includes management of shade, forestry, water resources, the conservation of plantation eco-systems, and maintaining the balance between natural eco-systems and plantation mono-culture. Certain plantation companies have already executed internationally recognized initiatives in the relevant dimensions. A State-mandated wage, divorced from productivity, may compel RPC’s to cut back on connected strategies in order to maintain financial viability, with adverse consequences for long term sustainability.

Why is the tea industry in Sri Lanka important, apart from the lives it supports and the foreign exchange it earns?

Certain industries define countries, globally. Ceylon/Sri Lanka is associated globally with the tea it produces, as much as Scotch whiskey defines Scotland and France is invariably linked to the fine wine it produces. Scotch whiskey is registered as a Geographical Indication (GI) – in the European Union – a special form of intellectual property rights, applied to products that have unique characteristics and a reputation associated with their origin. This is in addition to various legal provisions, which shield the image of Scotch whiskey from unfair competition. Similarly, the AOC (Appellation d’origine controle’e) defines and protects French wine. The authenticity and territory of champagne, produced only in a legally defined region in France, is guarded by an even greater body of protocols.

Ceylon Tea has, for over a century, enjoyed a reputation similar to that of wine, scotch and champagne; in fact it is the only tea in the world which occupies that privileged niche. Regrettably, an industry which should be the subject of State patronage, has now become a political theatre. I reiterate what I have said earlier, that the State interventions of the last five years, commencing with the Glyphosate ban and the inorganic fertilizer embargo, coupled with the unbearable weight of the new cost burden, will relegate our tea industry to irrelevance in the international arena.

(The writer is a retired plantation specialist with over 50 years experience, covering the Agency House era, the State-management interlude and the Regional Plantation Company period)

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Features

Proactive peacemaking becomes a paramount need

Published

17 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Wasting wars: Some war-displaced people in Lebanon. BBC

It may be some time before the full impact of food inflation is felt in the West. Until such time the world would continue to keep itself in suspense over whether the Trump administration is in earnest when it seeks to convey the impression that it is backing a negotiated solution in West Asia.

As is usually the case, consumer stress would be one of the final determinants of political change. To the degree to which the average US consumer somehow ‘muddles through’ and puts the food on the table, to the same extent would the Republican sections of the US public in particular be tolerant of the Trump administration’s inconsistent handling of the West Asian war and the main issues stemming from it. That is, there would be no grave popular disaffection and a demand for political change in the short term.

However, the indications are that the Trump administration’s support base is suffering some erosion in the wake of the current economic crisis. While reports indicate that Democratic sections are firming-up their opposition to the political centre, Republican support for Trump is also showing signs of waning, we are given to understand.

The above developments are probably why Trump is on record as having given Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a ‘dressing down’ recently on his seeming intransigence on the question of giving negotiations a chance in West Asia. The show of displeasure could be really aimed by Trump at containing the impatience of the American public.

However, the current ground situation in the Middle East, particularly the uncontained bloodshed, is likely to impress on the thinking sections of the world that more than temporary political change is needed in West Asia and the US.

A well thought out political solution that addresses all the contentious issues at the heart of the Middle East conflict is what enlightened opinion would demand, and very rightly. Right now, the ‘peace efforts’ initiated by the Trump administration give the impression of being piecemeal solutions at best.

There have been, of course, numerous initiatives in the past aimed at bringing permanent peace to the Middle East. These failed mainly because they did not address in full the root causes of the conflict.

At bottom the Middle East conflict is mainly about race and religious hate bred by socio-economic and material inequalities. For instance, if the Palestinian people were not displaced and deprived of land occupied by them at the time of the founding of the Israeli state, ethnic enmities would not have grown to the current unmanageable proportions.

When addressing the above questions, though, it must be remembered that the Israelis too were a displaced people who were entitled to land and a state of their own in the Middle East. Basically, out of these seemingly irreconcilable and conflicting demands have grown the Middle East imbroglio.

Middle East peace is considerably about reconciling these demands and arriving at a solution that would ensure the creation of two states that would opt for peaceful co-existence thereafter.

As long as the US does not see the need for a non-partisan solution that addresses the needs of both ethnicities and religions and goes all-out, as it were, to have it implemented, the Middle East would continue to bleed.

However, staunching the blood flow through the creation of two states would be only half the job done, though a very important part of it. More pernicious, pervasive and difficult to remedy are the inter-ethnic and inter-religious hatreds that have been unleashed over the decades.

However, if substantial, long-lasting peace is to be fostered in the region the latter ‘demons’ would need to be exorcised from the hearts and minds of the communities concerned. No doubt an uphill task but one that must be undertaken by those who wish the region well.

The UN would need to put its ‘best foot forward’ in such undertakings but it is time that it dawned on the international community and other caring quarters that Middle East peace, and all other such uphill challenges, require proactive peacemaking on the part of all civilized sections for their effective management. That is, public involvement in peacemaking too is a must.

Since hatreds are harboured in the human consciousness the enmities embedded in the latter need to be managed and defused judiciously alongside other undertakings in a peace process. In the case of West Asia, such enmities could be even spread globe-wide besides being multi-dimensional. For instance, it ought to be thought-provoking that Iran is insistent on a peace initiative that would also include Lebanon.

Besides security considerations it is also ethnic and religious affiliations that account for Iran making this demand. For instance, the Shias are a numerically important religious community in Lebanon and they provide a significant number of Hizbollah fighters, who are in a vital sense carrying out a ‘proxy war’ for Iran. It also needs to be factored in that Iran is a Shia-majority country.

Thus trans-border religious affiliations could add to the complexities and enormity of ethno-religious conflicts. However, the task of managing centuries-long enmities needs to be launched and prodded on with by peacemakers since a downing of arms alone would not guarantee substantive peace.

It is not realized sufficiently that the process of ending hatreds begins with mutual apologies by antagonists to a conflict for the harm inflicted on each other. This would be anathema in some ears but there is no getting away from the requirement. It is the vital first step to permanent peace anywhere.

In fact there could be no reconciliation worth speaking of without such mutual apologies. It is a point worth re-iterating in these times when even the government of Sri Lanka is voicing the need for national reconciliation. Well, without the words, ‘I am sorry’, there could be no permanent end to enmities – they would do well to remember.

The above requirements may not go down very well with governments, but they resonate in the hearts and minds of most people, since they are inheritors of religious traditions of some kind.

This is a principal reason why peacemaking works well when publics too are involved in them. The effectiveness of such campaigns increases several fold when they have a Mahatma Gandhi or a Jawaharlal Nehru at their helm. A strong proactive involvement by the public in peace could lead to the emergence of such leaders at some point in these campaigns.

Features

Dialog Brings Sri Lanka’s Largest Digital Vesak Experience to Matara

Published

17 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

From left to right: Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, and Lasantha Theverapperuma experience the Dialog 5G Ultra-powered VR tours.

Official Digital Partner of the 2026 ‘Dakshina Prabha’ National Vesak Zone

Dialog Axiata PLC, Sri Lanka’s #1 connectivity provider, collaborated with the Ministry of Buddha Sasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs to bring one of Sri Lanka’s largest and most technologically advanced Vesak experiences to the ‘Dakshina Prabha’ National Vesak Zone. The three-day celebration, in Matara attracted more than hundred thousand visitors, who engaged with a series of innovative digital activities powered by Dialog 5G Ultra, including Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences, digital pandols and a Data Dansala. The opening ceremony was attended by Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development and Hon. Saroja Savithri Paulraj, Minister of Women and Child Affairs, along with distinguished guests and Dialog’s senior management.

One of the key attractions at the venue was the Dialog 5G Ultra-powered Virtual Reality (VR) experience, which attracted more than 35,000 participants. The activation enabled devotees to virtually visit and pay homage to sacred Buddhist sites, including the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi in India and the Atamasthana in Anuradhapura, directly from the Vesak zone in Matara.

Visitors receive complimentary mobile data through Dialog’s QR-powered Data Dansala.

Dialog also conducted an AI Digital Vesak Greeting Card Competition from 21 May to 01 June 2026, attracting numerous entries from across the country. The shortlisted designs were showcased across 20 large LED screens throughout the venue and across Matara City, and were also made available for download via mobile devices. Further, through the use of AI, traditional Jathaka Katha were reimagined in a digital format, demonstrating how technology can be used to preserve and enhance cultural and religious heritage. Together, these initiatives blended traditional Vesak celebrations with emerging technologies, offering visitors a unique and immersive way to engage with Vesak traditions.

Extending the spirit of Vesak through connectivity, Dialog conducted a special Data Dansala powered by its QR Reload platform, enabling visitors to receive complimentary mobile data by scanning QR codes placed across the venue. In addition to the Matara National Vesak Zone, similar Data Dansala activations were also conducted at the Gangaramaya and Bauddhaloka Vesak zones in Colombo.Visitors also had the opportunity to create personalised Vesak-themed digital photos through an AI Photo Booth, generating AI-enhanced portraits using their own photographs and adding a contemporary digital element to the Vesak celebrations.

Visitors watch AI-generated Jathaka Katha

Commenting on the initiative, Hon. Sunil Handunnetti, Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, said, “The 2026 Dakshina Prabha Vesak Festival marked the first time AI-powered digital innovations were incorporated into a National Vesak Festival in Sri Lanka. Presenting Buddhist stories and teachings through technology created a new and engaging way for visitors to connect with these traditions. We thank Dialog for supporting this initiative and for working closely with us to bring our vision to life. Their contribution played an important role in making this first-of-its-kind event a reality.”

Lasantha Theverapperuma, Group Chief Marketing Officer of Dialog Axiata PLC said, “We thank the Government of Sri Lanka for the opportunity to support the 2026 Dakshina Prabha National Vesak Festival and for embracing technology as part of this year’s celebrations. As the Official Digital Partner, we were privileged to contribute through our Dialog 5G Ultra and AI capabilities, creating new ways for visitors to engage with Vesak traditions while preserving their cultural significance for future generations.”

Beyond supporting the National Vesak Zone in Matara, Dialog also enhanced the Gangaramaya and Bauddhaloka Vesak zones through a range of digital activations during the Vesak season. The company additionally continued its sustainability initiatives, including the Thirasara Aloka Poojawa, which illuminated rural places of worship through solar-powered lighting solutions.

Features

Beauty, elegance and talent…for women

Published

17 hours ago

2026/06/4

Sahan Weerasooriya

Universal Woman is an international pageant focused on “beauty, elegance, and talent” for women, positioning itself as a platform to shape global ambassadors. The 2026 edition will be held in Cambodia, and Sri Lanka will be there, as well.

According to reports coming my way, contestants, at the international event, will work with industry trailblazers, under international standards.

Sri Lankan supermodel, runway and pageant trainer Chulpadmendra Kumarapathirana, is the National Director for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026.

With over two decades in the industry, Chula was crowned Miss Sri Lanka 2006, and has since shaped the next generation of titleholders through her Colombo-based Chulpadmendra Catwalk Studio, widely regarded as one of the country’s leading modelling academies.

The team behind Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026

A former host of Derana Miss Sri Lanka for Miss World 2008 and a judge for Miss Universe Sri Lanka 2025, Chula now serves as National Director for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026, leading the franchise’s search for Sri Lanka’s delegate to the international final in Cambodia.

Applications for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 are being taken, via WhatsApp: 077 659 4994, says Chula.

The judging panel for Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 includes Senaka De Silva, Pageant Aesthetic Advisor & Chairperson of the Judging Panel, Angela Seneviratne, Caroline Jurie, Rozelle Plunkett, and Suraj Mapa.

Universal Woman Sri Lanka 2026 officially began its journey with a first round of auditions, held in Colombo, marking the start of an exciting new chapter in Sri Lanka’s pageant industry.

Launching the first round of auditions

The platform aims to empower women while selecting an intelligent, confident, and inspiring representative to compete at the Universal Woman International Pageant 2026 in Cambodia, this September.

Universal Woman Sri Lanka now moves forward with the vision of creating one of the country’s most prestigious and empowering pageants while preparing to crown a queen who will proudly represent Sri Lanka on the international stage.