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‘Stronger Together’ : Collaboration for the future of Sri Lanka’s plantation sector

Published

5 years ago

2021/05/21

21st May 2021 – The ceremonial auction of Wisdom in the Leaf in March 2021 brought the now silent Colombo tea auction room alive with tea growers, brokers and buyers united in their support for the sustainable future of Ceylon Tea. A part of Dilmah Tea’s History of Ceylon Tea https://www.historyofceylontea.com/ initiative, the book is a compendium of the knowledge of veteran Sri Lankan planters. Its objective is to record centuries of combined expertise as a guide for present and future planters. The monies raised would support a programme of empowerment for plantation workers & their families, spanning education, health, entrepreneurship and the environment.

The auction raised Rs. 2.3 million which was matched twice over by Dilmah’s MJF Charitable Foundation as part of its 3 year – Rs. 300 Million initiative to support communities in the estate sector. The funds committed are already at work to support the plantation community with the prospect of several other plantation entities joining the effort.

Named ‘Stronger Together’, the parallel initiative was accompanied by an invitation to all plantation companies in Sri Lanka to collaborate in enhancing the quality of life for plantation communities. The elements of the programme include healthcare and education, livelihood support, skills training, psychosocial and family support and also focuses on strengthening dialogue and amongst stakeholders to bring positive and sustainable change. Programmes commenced days after the event with several regional plantation companies expected to subscribe to the effort.

The Champions Forum is a key component, with representatives from every estate along with neighbouring plantations will be trained to identify common issues, propose possible solutions and be equipped in developing them in their own communities. These will include social, economic, environmental themes involving workers and estate staff in understanding and resolving issues that impact life on the estates. The ‘champions’ will then roll out the training sessions within their own community and raise awareness to establish community led solutions.

Another component addresses the expectations of youth in the communities connected to plantations. Young people remain unemployed on the plantations relying on family support while others who had migrated in search of employment have been forced to return to their homes due to the economic impact of the pandemic. Workshops offering relevant and practical skills through a variety of programmes are aimed at increasing their employability in sustainable agriculture, tourism, or other vocations.

Dilmah’s MJF Foundation has initiated a collaboration that aims to address reproductive health issues including access to local and affordable sanitary napkins and improved welfare infrastructure for the women of the tea gardens. Other initiatives target ongoing programmes designed to address the hardship of the pandemic. These include scholarships, study support, child care, nutrition and emergency relief in the form of food and hygiene materials so that communities that are quarantined or impacted by the pandemic are better supported.

These initiatives fulfil Teamaker, Merrill J. Fernando’s desire to make business a matter of human service and echo similar sentiments that were voiced by industry veterans Anselm Perera and Rohan Fernando.

Over the years, the Dilmah Founder’s MJF Foundation has worked to improve the lives of many in the plantations. With a focus on empowering individuals through entrepreneurship livelihoods, climate resilience and environmental sustainability are key to the Stronger Together initiative. The programme was delayed by a surge of COVID infections and resulting travel limitations but currently operates on 48 estates, benefitting more than 15,500 families.

The plantation sector in Sri Lanka continues to face challenges although most stakeholders agree that with the impact of the pandemic, a collaborative and sustainable approach to social and economic issues is essential. The Stronger Together initiative aims to foster that collaboration, and build stronger foundations to sustain the industry in the 21st century.

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Tri-Forces donate LKR. 372 million, a day’s pay of all ranks to ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund

Published

3 hours ago

2026/01/3

Priyan

Members of all ranks from the Sri Lanka Army, Sri Lanka Navy and Sri Lanka Air Force have collectively donated a day’s basic salary to the ‘Rebuilding Sri Lanka’ Fund, which was established to restore livelihoods and rebuild the country following the devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah.

Accordingly, the total contribution made by the Tri-Forces amounts to LKR. 372,776,918.28.

The cheques representing the financial contributions were handed over on Wednesday (31 December) at the Presidential Secretariat to the Secretary to the President, Dr. Nandika Sanath Kumanayake.

The donations comprised LKR. 250 million from the Commander of the Army, Major General Lasantha Rodrigo; LKR. 73,963,879.71 from the Commander of the Navy, Rear Admiral Kanchana Banagoda and LKR. 48,813,038.97 from the Commander of the Air Force, Air Marshal Vasu Bandu Edirisinghe.

Secretary to the Ministry of Defence, Air Vice Marshal Sampath Thuyacontha, was also present on the occasion.

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CEB demands 11.57 percent power tariff hike in first quarter

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

The Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has submitted a proposal to the Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) seeking an 11.57 percent increase in electricity tariffs for the first quarter of 2026, citing an estimated revenue shortfall and additional financial pressures, including cyclone-related damages.

According to documents issued by the PUCSL, the proposed tariff revision would apply to electricity consumption from January to March 2026 and includes changes to both energy charges and fixed monthly charges across all consumer categories, including domestic, religious, industrial, commercial and other users.

Under the proposal, domestic electricity consumers would face increases in unit rates as well as fixed monthly charges across all consumption blocks.

The CEB has estimated a deficit of Rs. 13,094 million for the first quarter of 2026, which it says necessitates the proposed 11.57 per cent tariff hike. The utility has noted that any deviation from this estimate whether a surplus or a shortfall will be adjusted through the Bulk Supply Tariff Adjustment (BSTA) mechanism and taken into account in the next tariff revision.

In its submission, the CEB said the proposed revision is aimed at ensuring the financial and operational stability of the power sector and mitigating potential risks to the reliability of electricity supply. The board-approved tariff structure for the first quarter of 2026 has been submitted to the PUCSL for approval and subsequent implementation, as outlined in Annex II of the proposal.

The CEB has also highlighted the financial impact of Cyclone Ditwah, which it said caused extensive damage to electricity infrastructure, with total losses estimated at around Rs. 20 billion. Of this amount, Rs. 7,016.52 million has been attributed to the first quarter of 2026, which the utility said has a direct bearing on electricity tariffs.

The CEB warned that if external funding is not secured to cover the cyclone-related expenditure, the costs incurred would need to be recovered through electricity tariffs in the second-quarter revision of 2026.

Meanwhile, the PUCSL has said that a decision on whether to approve the proposed tariff increase will be made only after following due regulatory procedures and holding discussions on the matter.

By Sujeewa Thathsara ✍️

News

Health Minister sends letter of demand for one billion rupees in damages

Published

5 hours ago

2026/01/3

Thilina Walpola

Ondansetron controversy

Minister of Health and Mass Media Dr Nalinda Jayatissa has sent a letter of demand for Rs. 1 billion in damages from YouTube content creator Dharmasri Kariyawasam, accusing him of disseminating false and defamatory material linking the Minister to the importation of Ondansetron and inciting public unrest.

The notice, sent through the Minister’s lawyers, states that investigations are currently under way into 10 medicines, including Ondansetron Injection, manufactured by India-based Maan Pharmaceutical Limited.

Ondansetron Injection was among nine injectable drugs recently suspended by the National Medicines Regulatory Authority (NMRA) following reports of patients administered with the drug suffering adverse complications.

Despite the ongoing investigations, Kariyawasam allegedly aired a widely viewed programme on his YouTube channel titled “The hidden story of the Indian drug that claimed lives, Mayor Balthazaar’s relative, and Minister Nalinda’s cover-up.”

According to the letter of demand, the programme falsely portrayed Minister Jayatissa as being directly responsible for importing the drug, colluding with the supplier, and attempting to conceal the issue, while depicting him as indifferent to public suffering.

The Minister’s lawyers maintain that these allegations are entirely false and defamatory, citing passages in which Kariyawasam allegedly accused Jayatissa of lying about the supplier, concealing facts related to PTC Medicals (Pvt) Ltd., the actual importer, and showing a lack of concern over deaths purportedly linked to the drug.

The programme also claimed links between the directors of PTC Medicals and family members of Colombo Mayor Vraîe Cally Balthazaar, implying political favouritism.