The Hon. Gayantha Karunathilleka

¶ 01 Hon. Chairman, I move that, in line with tradition, the recurrent and capital expenditure under Heads 135, 293 and 337 of the Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure and its departments and institutions be reduced by Rs. 10 each.

¶ 02 This is an important Ministry. Our plantation industry has a long history. From colonial times through 1977’s open economy, plantations significantly contributed to exports, employment and state revenue.

¶ 03 Tea was first planted here by the British around 1867 as coffee declined. Coconut has been cultivated about 185 years; rubber for around 150 years—its 150th next year. With plantation growth came highways, railways, banks, insurance, transport. Export income funded essential imports.

¶ 04 Today, however, plantations face domestic and international challenges: labour shortages, governance issues across public/private, climate change, rising costs; and global competition from Asia/Africa.

¶ 05 On tea: Sri Lanka enjoys climatic advantages enabling 12-month plucking, unlike many countries with only 6 months. Global tea production is about 6.5 million MT; Sri Lanka produces about 250 million kg—roughly 3.9%—far below our “Ceylon Tea” legacy. The chemical fertilizer ban and forced organic push caused major setbacks. Smallholders now produce about 75% of tea. Most smallholders have under two acres. They struggle with wages, agrochemicals, and fertilizer affordability—good fertilizer costs ~Rs. 9,000 per bag; subsidized ~Rs. 5,750. Some say wage work earns more than tending their plots. Replanting rates are extremely low—about 1%—posing a risk to the industry’s future.

¶ 06 Factories have fallen from 709 to 585 operating, with 124 closed, due to leaf shortages and high costs (fuel, power, wages). Some factories accept entire shoots including coarse leaf just to keep turnover and survive, hurting quality. We have multiple levy-funded bodies—Tea Board, TSHDA, TRI, and SLTB—yet poor coordination. They must be synchronized to drive development.

¶ 07 On coconut: the “Kaprukā” is central to life; coconut sambol and rice are staples. Yet prices have soared, turning a basic food into a luxury. Traditionally, the coconut triangle was Kurunegala–Puttalam–Gampaha; a Northern triangle—Mannar–Jaffna–Mullaitivu—was also designated later. About 440,000 ha carry 65–80 million palms, yielding over 3,000 million nuts annually, with per capita use about 100 nuts/year. Prices recently hit Rs. 180–250 per nut. Daily consumption has dropped from about 5 million to 3 million nuts—a decline of 2 million—due largely to long-term lack of fertilizer and pest/disease damage, plus wild animal harm. Consumers and dependent industries suffer. We need short- and long-term action, including fertilizer support and pest/disease control.

¶ 08 On rubber: areas like my district are traditional rubber zones, but the crop faces natural mortality, adverse weather, poor prices and labour issues. Some estates shift to other crops like kitul, hurting rubber.

¶ 09 On cinnamon: my district (Karandeniya, Ambalangoda, Meetiyagoda, Batapola, Balapitiya, Induruwa, Elpitiya) is a cinnamon heartland. “Ceylon Cinnamon” is globally renowned. Around 75,000–100,000 acres are under cinnamon, with 300,000–400,000 people depending on it. Growers face volatile prices, labour and input costs, and low earnings. Youth shun the trade; land is being fragmented and sold; processing remains traditional with low incomes.

¶ 10 On kitul: there is high domestic and foreign demand for treacle and jaggery, but producers’ lives are not “sweet.” Tappers face risks and hardship. Government must support livelihoods and safety.

¶ 11 This Ministry’s subjects deeply impact people’s lives and the economy. I wish the Minister well in delivering tangible improvements.