News

Steps have been taken to pay the long-outstanding statutory dues of plantation workers in state plantation institutions, which have gone unpaid for over 25 years, and relief for more than 10,000 workers recently began in Kandy.

Accordingly, as the first phase, the government granted overdue gratuity payments of more than Rs. 79 million to 308 workers employed in estates under the Kandy North, Kandy South, Matale District Labour Offices, and the Gampola and Nawalapitiya Sub-District Labour Offices. The awarding ceremony was held on 10 September 2026 at the auditorium of the Kandy District Secretariat under the chairmanship of the Minister of Labour, Dr. Anil Jayantha Fernando, the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Mr. Samantha Vidyarathna, and the Deputy Minister, Mr. Sundaralingam Pradeep, with the participation of the Secretary of the Ministry of Labour, Mr. S. M. Piyathissa, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Mr. Gunadasa Samarasinghe.

The Department of Labour is already taking steps to settle the remaining payments due to workers, including arrears of Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF) contributions.

In line with the national policy “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life,” Cabinet approval has been granted to allocate Rs. 10 billion to settle the statutory arrears of employees in ten semi-government institutions, thereby safeguarding workers’ rights and strengthening their economic security. The Cabinet paper related to this initiative was presented by the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Mr. Samantha Vidyarathna.

Out of the allocated amount, more than Rs. 4,500 million is to be disbursed to over 10,000 retired and currently employed workers of three state plantation institutions affiliated to the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure: the Sri Lanka State Plantation Corporation (SLSPC), the Janatha Estate Development Board (JEDB), and the Elkaduwa Plantation Company (EPL).