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

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson, I must clarify a few points raised by Hon. Jeevan Thondaman. The President, in presenting the Budget, made it clear – and I believe you agree – that wages of estate workers are inadequate. In this Budget we increased public sector and private sector wages. We also stated we are discussing with stakeholders to raise the daily wage of estate workers to Rs. 1,700. The Minister of Economic Development, Dr. Anil Jayantha, and I – our two Ministries together – have already discussed with plantation companies and will continue. Given current conditions, we hold firmly that Rs. 1,700 per day must be paid. We also told companies that the Government is improving roads and housing on estates with public funds, so companies can and must do more. Some private companies have individually agreed they can reach that figure; they seek a collective approach. We expect their cooperation.

¶ 02 Regarding the “Hatton Declaration,” even before the presidential election, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in Hatton pledged to grant the Malaiyaha people land rights, house ownership, and proper addresses; they are our citizens and brothers and deserve opportunities. Therefore, as Hon. Radhakrishnan said, estate residents should not need estate officials’ permission to get electricity; thus we will grant land rights. As you said, the Government cannot build all houses at once. This year we have allocated funds to issue a number of land deeds.

¶ 03 On youth vocational training and education opportunities for estate youth: we have allocated Rs. 1,800 million in this Budget for such basic facilities and programmes.

¶ 04 We are grateful to India as you thanked. As I clarified this morning, we plan to build 4,700 houses this year and 4,700 next year. The smart classroom project will continue; no selected school will be changed. Schools are selected by the Ministry of Education. We will provide smart classroom sets with Indian and Government support. Our Ministry Secretary recently signed the MoU with the Indian High Commission. We have also allocated Rs. 600 million from the Government.