News
Ganesan condemns attack on estate officials, but says workers do such acts in sheer frustration
Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader MP Mano Ganesan says the Tamil Progressive Alliance condemns attacks on estate officials. The Estate Managers’ Association of Sri Lanka has warned that they will have to refrain from estate administration in view of attacks on its members.
MP Ganeshan has, however, said that the reason for the attack on the estate officials was the frustration of workers. He says most of them have lost their livelihoods, and the blame should not be placed only on these frustrated workers.
MP Ganesan questioned why the government’s attention has yet not been focused on the problems of declining incomes of workers and the decline of the plantation industry.
“Why hasn’t the Ceylon Workers Congress, the government’s plantation partner, understood the gravity of the current situation? I am astonished by its silence. I don’t understand if this silence is a deceitful ploy to hide the government’s inability to rectify the situation,” MP Ganesan said.
The MP says the situation has arisen due to the worst decline in the livelihoods of plantation workers in recent history.
“All the activities we initiated, including the construction of houses on estates, have come to a standstill. They are conducting opening ceremonies for the handover of the houses we built. The living conditions on estates are appalling. The main reason for this is the collapse of the plantation industry.”
Ganeshan said that the estate workers are not receiving the promised wage hikes as the management companies claim their revenue has declined.
MP Ganesan said that the income of the people living on estates should be increased. He suggests that estate workers be given the right to engage in alternative employment. Opportunities should be provided for animal husbandry and vegetable farming. The government should provide assistance to them, he says.
The MP said that estate managers don’t allow these workers who have lived on these estates for many decades even to effect minor repairs to their houses or to grow some vegetables in their compound for their consumption. Such actions, he said, only serves to increase the frustration of the poor workers.
When outsiders were given land belonging to estates, those who have worked on them for decades get frustrated. ” Such incidents have taken place in a number of districts and have been brought to our attention. These, too, add to the frustration of workers,” he noted.
The Indian Naval Ship (INS) Sahyadri which arrived at the Port of Colombo on a formal visit on 04 Apr 25, departed the island today (07 Apr). The Sri Lanka Navy bade customary farewell to the departing ship at the Port of Colombo, following naval traditions.
During the ship’s stay in Colombo, crew members of INS Sahyadri took part in several programmes organized by the Sri Lanka Navy, aimed at enhancing mutual cooperation. In addition, they also explored some tourist attractions in the country. Further, personnel of Sri Lanka Navy had the opportunity to visit INS Sahyadri, gaining insights into her operational capabilities.
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
The Natural Hazards Early Warning Centre has issued an Advisory for Severe Lightning for the Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district.
The advisory issued at 02.00 p.m. today [07 April 2025] is valid for the period until 11.00 p.m. 07 April 2025
The public are warned that thundershowers accompanied by severe lightning are likely to occur at several places in for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambantota district. There may be temporary localized strong winds during thundershowers. General public is kindly requested to take adequate precautions to minimize damages caused by lightning activity.
ACTION REQUIRED:
The Department of Meteorology advises that people should:
Seek shelter, preferably indoors and never under trees.
• Avoid open areas such as paddy fields, tea plantations and open water bodies during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using wired telephones and connected electric appliances during thunderstorms.
• Avoid using open vehicles, such as bicycles, tractors and boats etc.
• Beware of fallen trees and power lines.
• For emergency assistance contact the local disaster management authorities.
The report of the “Census of Population and Housing 2024,” conducted by the Department of Census and Statistics, was officially handed over to President Anura Kumara Disanayake this morning (07) at the Presidential Secretariat.
This preliminary report has been prepared based on island wide data collected between October and December 2024.
The report provides details on Sri Lanka’s population, its growth and the distribution of the population across districts.
The information gathered through the census is vital not only for the government but also for other institutions in formulating policies and development plans essential for the country’s progress. Significantly, for the first time in the history of census-collecting in Sri Lanka, data collection was carried out using tablet computers and user-friendly mobile devices.
The event was attended by Deputy Minister of Finance & Planning, Harshana Suriyapperuma, Secretary to the President Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake, Secretary to the Ministry of Finance Mahinda Siriwardana, Director General of the Department of Census and Statistics D.D.G.A. Senevirathne and several other officials.
INS Sahyadri sets sail from Colombo
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Advisory for severe lightning issued for Sabaragamuwa, Central and Uva provinces and in Hambanthota district
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