The Government has approved the payment of more than Rs. 4.5 billion in outstanding statutory dues to over 10,000 current and former employees of three state-owned plantation institutions, with some payments having remained unsettled for more than two decades.
The payments will be made to employees and retired workers of the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation, Janatha Estate Development Board and Elkaduwa Plantations Company, which operate under the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure.
Cabinet approval was granted following a proposal submitted on the initiative of Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister Samantha Vidyaratne, taking into consideration the economic and health challenges faced by plantation workers, particularly following retirement and during old age.
Under the approved allocation, more than Rs. 1.961 billion will be paid to around 3,000 employees of the Sri Lanka State Plantations Corporation.
A further Rs. 2.024 billion will be allocated to 6,123 employees of the Janatha Estate Development Board, while more than Rs. 503 million will be provided to around 1,000 employees of Elkaduwa Plantations Company.
The Government said the decision reflects its commitment to protecting the rights and economic security of plantation communities, particularly the Malaiyaha Tamil community.
The first payments of the outstanding gratuity benefits are scheduled to commence on September 10 at the Kandy District Secretariat.
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