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‘Sri Lankan tea’s current crisis only reinforces the value of productivity-linked wages’

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4 years ago

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By Dr. Roshan Rajadurai

“An incentive is a bullet, a key: an often tiny object with astonishing power to change a situation”

– Economist, Steven Levitt

Almost 7 months from the Government’s initial decision to ban the import and use of synthetic fertilizers and as at the date of this publication, Sri Lanka’s entire agriculture and plantation economy is still frantically in search of any viable option to mitigate the threat of declining yields.

Without any prior planning or notice, our entire sector has been coerced into blindly participating in the most unscientific experiment ever attempted in Sri Lanka’s history. We are all left to now anticipate what the implications of an immediate, nation-wide halt to all established and essential best practices relating to plant nutrition, pest, fungus and weeds will be.

We are told that arrangements are being made to import organic fertilizer from various, untested sources, and agreements are minted to produce organic fertilizer locally, much akin to attempting to rebuild an airplane while it is still in flight. Nevertheless, the inconvenient truth remains. At present, all supplies of “organic” and inorganic fertilizer are in short supply.

Stocks which are available, have increased in price owing to both supply-demand dynamics, disrupted supply chains and unprecedented increases in landed costs. These escalating payments are making Sri Lankan tea’s already high cost of production (COP) even higher, which is placing Sri Lankan plantations under even further stress. This a few short months after an increase in worker wages was thrust through the Wages Board.

Sri Lankan tea’s strange new normal needs to be re-evaluated immediately

With the end of the year approaching, and the window for fertilizing crops closing, it appears that the industry will be locked into at least one – if not more – growth cycles absent basic nutrients of Nitrogen, Potassium, and Phosphorus, and with no ability to control pests and weeds. Without immediate solutions, the broad consensus among those with expertise is that we can start to see exponentially worse crop losses starting from the end of 2021, hitting approximately 40% by next year.

If RPCs were to have disregarded basic agronomic practices and norms in such a manner of their own volition, it would have been called criminal mismanagement. With agricultural best practices now being roundly ignored in favour of a largely undefined and unplanned strategy for transforming Sri Lanka into a nation with “100% organic agriculture”, this historic, and intentionally misinformed self-sabotage is being repackaged as visionary and progressive.

Meanwhile, the nation’s best agricultural experts are being ignored or in the case of Prof. Buddhi Marambe, sidelined and silenced, on the grounds that he simply stated scientific facts regarding the current agro-chemical ban and had been consistent in doing so, because he had previously spoken up against the previous Government’s disastrous decision to suspend glyphosate imports.

This was a policy which resulted in the rejection of Sri Lankan tea exports as a result of issues with Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs), and caused the permanent loss of extremely high value markets in Japan, and a similar escalation in costs; all without a single shred of scientific evidence being provided to justify the lasting damage caused. As a result, the Government of the time was compelled to backpedal on its decision, but not without irreversible damage being done for no apparent reason.

This “justification” highlights a dangerous trend of politicization of science. If the science does not agree with politics, then it now appears acceptable to simply dismiss the scientists, rather than engage with facts and ground realities.

A simple extrapolation shows a grim future for workers

Regardless of short-term political expediency, reality has a way of asserting itself. Spread across 14 districts, the tea industry alone provides direct employment to over 600,000 people engaged in cultivation and processing and indirect employment to a further 200,000 involved in the supply chain. The sector provides complete livelihood support for a resident population of one million in Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) and 450,000 Tea Smallholders with one million dependents, hence supporting a total population of nearly 2.5 million.

When considering both employment and livelihood generation, it is estimated that the industry sustains more than 10% of our national population and its net foreign exchange earnings are only second to the garment industry.

Even if “organic” fertilliser is made available, there are still serious concerns as to whether it can provide sufficient nutrients. Hence, it appears that the writing is on the wall. With insufficient nutrients as a result of the unplanned push for organic, we anticipate a series of cascading failures stemming from a collapse in productivity. No amount of rhetoric will be able to turn back the tide of negative sentiment against such developments.

If not land productivity, at least labour

Unlike the garment industry, where progressive incentive structures were allowed to flourish, in our industry, workers remain bound to an outdated colonial era daily wage model. As a result, unlike the dynamism of the apparel sector, Sri Lanka’s plantation sector is also weighed down with one of the lowest labour productivity rates in the world. The combination of low land and labour productivity will create a series of cascading failures.

The only measure that could at least temporarily mitigate this dynamic is the implementation of productivity linked wages. This is a model which has the support of all RPCs, and which was has been widely practiced with tremendous success by tea smallholders. While they have been implemented with ease in low-mid grown estates, it is only in the high-grown regions, where resistance to these models has been encountered.

Crucially, this resistance is not from workers who have experience with productivity linked wages, but rather with Trade Unions who would likely lose relevance if such models were implemented. The benefits for workers are immense. In addition to creating a potential monthly earnings per worker of between Rs. 37,000-Rs 62,000, under previous proposals advanced by RPCs.

This will also give workers flexi-hours, empowering them to choose when and how they work. Given the labour shortages prevalent across the entire tea industry, such a move would at long last incentivize workers effectively, and reward them for achieving their full individual potential, thereby significantly optimizing labour productivity.

However, without a scientific resolution to the fertilizer crisis, wage reforms can only serve as a stop gap measure. As land productivity drops, RPCs, state plantations and smallholders alike will be forced to reduce the amount of work offered, leading to a continuous diminution of worker earnings.

The few remaining workers in the plantation industry will have no choice but to try their luck in other lines of work, accelerating the ongoing migration of labour from the estate sector. It is unclear whether other economic sectors have the capacity to absorb such a large group of workers at once.

Already, we have seen multiple outbreaks of mob violence on estates, with the majority of such incidents being triggered by disputes over wages. Without proper solutions to these burning issues, worker wages will eventually be disrupted. Will the authorities take responsibility for what will follow?


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A Historic Hat-Trick: Home Lands Crowned Best Developer Sri Lanka for Third Consecutive Year, Also Wins Best Lifestyle Developer Asia

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16 mins ago

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2025/12/19

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Home Lands has once again solidified its position as Sri Lanka’s number one and most trusted real estate developer, achieving a historic milestone at the PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards 2025, held in Bangkok, Thailand on 12th December 2025. The company was crowned “Best Developer, Sri Lanka” for the third consecutive year, reaffirming its unmatched leadership in the nation’s real estate sector. Adding to the prestige, Home Lands was also honoured with the highly coveted “Best Lifestyle Developer, Asia” award, an extraordinary achievement for any Sri Lankan developer on the global stage.

The prestigious PropertyGuru Asia Property Awards, the ultimate hallmark of excellence in the Asian property sector was established in 2005 to recognise the region’s finest real estate. Over the years, the programme has become the most trusted and most sought-after awards platform in Asia. Upholding the highest levels of integrity, the Awards follow a professionally supervised, independent judging system, setting the gold standard for real estate recognition in the region.

In addition to its developer accolades, Home Lands’s landmark projects shone across multiple categories, bringing home several top honours:

  • Best Luxury Condo Development (Colombo) – Pentara Residencies, Thummulla Handiya – “The Address in Colombo”

  • Best Completed Condo Development – Santorini Resort Apartments & Residencies, Negombo

  • Best Waterfront Condo Development – Bayfonte Marina Resort Apartments & Villas, Negombo

  • Best Lifestyle Developer – Home Lands Skyline (Private) Limited

Speaking on yet another historic achievement, Mr. Nalin Herath, Chairman – Home Lands Group, stated:

“Securing the Best Developer title for the third consecutive year, along with being named the Best Lifestyle Developer in Asia, is a proud moment not just for Home Lands but for Sri Lanka. We sincerely thank our customers for their trust and support, which inspires us to continually raise the bar. These wins reflect our unwavering commitment to building with trust, innovation, and excellence, and we will continue to create exceptional living environments while elevating Sri Lanka’s presence in the international real estate arena.

With over 3,400 residential units delivered and over 2,300 units currently under construction across eight ongoing futuristic mega residential complexes, Home Lands continues to drive the evolution of modern living in Sri Lanka. Beyond developing homes, the company has consistently reshaped the lifestyles of Sri Lankans by introducing globally inspired, amenity-rich, resort-style living experiences.

Among its flagship projects, Canterbury Golf Resort Apartments & Villas stands as a testament to this vision — Sri Lanka’s Largest Residential Development, spanning over 55 acres of land, and the country’s first Victorian-style golf resort apartments and villas. Featuring a signature day & night golf course and an unparalleled collection of lifestyle amenities, this iconic development has redefined modern living standards, setting a new benchmark for integrated, resort-style residential environments in Sri Lanka.

Supported by a fully integrated group of 13 companies, including a CS2-graded construction arm certified by CIDA, Home Lands ensures world-class quality and seamless execution from design to delivery. With a growing global presence and offices in Australia and Dubai, the company continues to strengthen international investor confidence in Sri Lanka’s residential property sector.

According to the latest RIU Brand Health Survey 2025, Home Lands remains the undisputed market leader in the country’s real estate industry.

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Unlocking Sri Lanka’s hidden wealth: A $2 billion mineral opportunity awaits

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8 hours ago

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2025/12/19

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Surveys have indicated that minerals such as thorianite and uranium-bearing minerals are present in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka stands on the brink of an economic transformation, powered not by traditional exports, but by the vast, untapped mineral wealth lying beneath its soil and off its shores. According to a comprehensive new business report launched by the Pathfinder Foundation in collaboration with the Australian Trade and Investment Commission, on 17th December in Colombo, the island’s mineral sector holds a staggering unrealised export potential of up to USD 2 billion.

Currently, Sri Lanka exports most of its high-purity minerals including world-renowned vein graphite, rare earth elements (REEs), and mineral sands in raw or semi-processed form, capturing only a fraction of their true value. The report reveals that while current exports to top destinations total about USD 389 million, the achievable potential is estimated at USD 778 million, with the full downstream value-add opportunity reaching several times that figure.

“Sri Lanka has great potential for exports,” stated Australian High Commissioner Matthew Duckworth at the report’s launch. “It is not only about mining but also about refining – moving up the value chain to get significantly higher export earnings.”

The nation is endowed with critical resources essential for global clean energy and high-tech supply chains. This includes an estimated 5 million tonnes of graphite (with purity up to 99.9%), over 600 million tonnes of mineral sands containing REEs like neodymium, and the massive Eppawala phosphate deposit, which alone holds 60 million tonnes of phosphate-bearing material. Experts believe even these numbers may be conservative due to a lack of island-wide surveys, pointing to major exploration opportunities.

However, realising this potential requires urgent action. The report identifies systemic barriers: a fragmented regulatory framework involving over 18 agencies, slow licensing, infrastructure gaps, and outdated mining methods. These challenges have discouraged investment and prevented value addition.

The path forward is clear. The government is already moving to modernise the approval process via a unified digital platform and is crafting a national critical minerals strategy. The report emphasises that success hinges on attracting foreign expertise and investment, particularly in downstream processing – turning graphite into battery-grade material, refining rare earths, and processing mineral sands domestically.

Australia, with its global leadership in sustainable mining and technology, is positioned as a key partner. Australian METS (Mining Equipment, Technology, and Services) companies can bring advanced technology, ESG-compliant practices, and training, potentially reducing operational costs by 30-40% while improving recovery rates.

“For Sri Lanka, the stakes are high. Developing a modern, sustainable mineral sector can diversify the economy, create high-value jobs, build resilience, and integrate the nation into strategic global supply chains,” the Australian High Commissioner noted. The message from the report is one of urgent optimism: the resources are here, the international partners are ready, and the roadmap is laid out. Now is the time for policymakers, investors, and stakeholders to come together to unlock this buried treasure for the benefit of all Sri Lankans.

By Sanath Nanayakkare

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Environmental damage now a direct threat to telecom operations, SLT chief warns at 2026 calendar launch

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8 hours ago

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2025/12/19

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Dignitaries at the launch of the SLT calendar

Environmental destruction is no longer an abstract environmental concern but a direct business risk, Sri Lanka Telecom/Mobitel Chairman Dr. Mothilal de Silva warned, as the national telecom giant launched its 2026 corporate calendar linking climate change, marine degradation and network stability.

Unveiling the calendar, Dr. de Silva said the initiative was not a ceremonial exercise but a corporate statement on responsibility and survival. “Today we are not just unveiling a calendar; we are sharing a story — a story of beauty, resilience and profound responsibility,” he said, stressing that environmental protection had become business-integral for SLT.

The 2026 SLT-Mobitel desk and digital calendar takes viewers beneath Sri Lanka’s seas, focusing on the intricate forms of marine shells and clams. Created by renowned artists Pulasthi Ediriweera and Nalin Jayarathna, the artworks portray seashells as both natural marvels of design and lasting symbols of fragile marine life.

“Each shell is a protective home — a permanent memorabilia left by gentle creatures,” Dr. de Silva said. “In their form and pattern, they send us a silent message about their presence and their urgent need for protection.”

Drawing a direct link between ecological degradation and recent climate-related disasters, Dr. de Silva rejected attempts to mask environmental realities. “You cannot cover this up with fake news. The destruction of forests, hill-country ecosystems, tea estates and irresponsible land use has created these calamities,” he said, referring to recent cyclonic events and flooding.

He warned that climate change and rising sea levels were already affecting SLT’s core infrastructure. Sri Lanka’s international connectivity depends on five subsea communication cables landing in Colombo and Matara. “Unusual sea-level rise and abnormal tides have already caused network outages. When the sea is disturbed, it directly affects the quality and reliability of our network,” he said.

Dr. de Silva said SLT and its international consortium partners follow strict environmental safeguards when laying, maintaining and even disposing of subsea cables. These include detailed environmental surveys, route planning to avoid sensitive marine ecosystems and specialised installation techniques. Cable repair operations based in Galle, he added, also adhere to stringent environmental standards.

“Our work is fundamentally about connection — connecting people, businesses and nations. But this connection must be built with care for the environment that hosts it,” he said, noting that sustainability was not merely a corporate social responsibility obligation but essential to business continuity.

Marine naturalist Dr. Malik Fernando, addressing the launch, highlighted Sri Lanka’s rich but inadequately studied seashell diversity. He said several marine and freshwater mollusc species were protected under existing laws, yet continued to appear in markets due to weak enforcement.

Some shells, including cone shells, are highly venomous and capable of causing human fatalities, Dr. Fernando noted, underscoring the risks posed by unregulated collection. While many mollusc species are widely dispersed due to larval movement, he said certain rare species recorded from limited locations could be near-endemic and vulnerable to extinction.

Dr. Fernando also pointed to the broader challenge of biodiversity research, noting that many species remain unidentified due to the lack of systematic field studies, despite improved access to global scientific resources through digital platforms.

In concluding remarks, Dr. de Silva called on the media to play a responsible role in conveying environmental truths to the public and suggested that the calendar be shared internationally, including at future UN climate conferences. “A digitally empowered Sri Lanka must go hand in hand with preserving its natural wonders,” he said. “This calendar is a reminder that protecting the environment is not optional — it is essential for our future.”

By Ifham Nizam

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