The Hon. K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna - Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

¶ 01 The estate community has long lacked land and housing ownership. In Ratnapura alone, 2,159 families live in temporary huts; nationally the number is higher, and even greater in Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, Kandy, and Matale. The new government decided to grant 10 perches to estate families who lack land rights.

¶ 02 There are families still in relief/safety camps due to landslides. In my district, after a 2023 landslide, 50 families lived 2½ years inside a closed tea factory; we are now building houses and will deliver within about two months.

¶ 03 Under Indian assistance, we are implementing a 10,000-housing project for the estate community; the Government of Sri Lanka funds basic infrastructure (water, roads, electricity). In 2025, for the first time, 2,026 housing grants for the estate community were issued under the President’s leadership at Bandaranawele, and initial works have commenced. Terrain constraints after “Ditsa” cyclone required NBRO re-assessment and site changes.

¶ 04 In 2026, we plan to build over 2,600 additional houses under the Indian programme. Separately, the Minister of Housing plans more than 50,000 houses nationally for low-income and vulnerable communities, with a significant share for estates. For houses fully damaged by “Ditsa”, Rs. 500,000 per house has been approved, and discussions are underway to extend this to estate residents even without land titles. An accelerated programme will be implemented.