Hon. Nishantha Perera

¶ 01 Mr. Presiding Member, as of today we all know Sri Lanka’s tea industry is facing a severe crisis. The Englishman James Taylor did not bring the first tea sapling to Ceylon in 1867 by accident. The black tea that our country produces is unique — it is not naturally produced anywhere else in the world. It is grown in Sri Lanka, specifically in Deniyaya, in the Matara District, known as the “tea triangle.” Because black tea does not grow naturally anywhere else, James Taylor brought that tea plant here. From that point, our country began developing a tea industry.

¶ 02 However, the tea industry has now suffered a massive crisis — a devastating collapse. I said earlier that the Opposition should come and speak looking into a mirror. In truth, we do not have time to lay out all the facts. This book I hold details how our tea industry has come under challenge. It documents the Sri Lanka Tea Board, the Tea Research Institute of Sri Lanka, the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority, and the Tea Shakthi Fund across many pages. It explains, through Budget Estimates, what has happened to the allocations made to the Tea Shakthi Fund; what became of the funds allocated to the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority; what happened to the funds allocated to the Ministry of Plantation Industries; and what happened when money was spent to promote tea overseas. But I do not have time to go into those details now.

¶ 03 In particular, audit reports state that extremely corrupt actions have occurred in efforts to lease out the building of the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority at the Galle Fort. We must speak about what has happened to the world’s finest black tea — today it faces a dire situation.

¶ 04 We in the present Government recognize these challenges. The Hon. President and our Hon. Minister Samantha Viddyarathna, among others, have clearly identified the issues. We must revive the tea industry. We recall that the abrupt switch from chemical to organic fertilizer plunged tea into a severe crisis. Recognizing this, we have allocated Rs. 800 million for the tea industry, including Rs. 800 million for the Tea Small Holdings Development Authority and Rs. 700 million for tea research. Tea factory development had been entirely halted — our Government has now allocated Rs. 175 million to recommence that work. Replanting had also been stopped — now even Members of the Opposition are calling for replanting. It was they who halted replanting; our Government has allocated Rs. 274.2 million for replanting. Fallow land subsidies were also stopped due to past decisions. Our Government has allocated Rs. 550 million for fallow land subsidies, Rs. 60 million for direct tea planting, and Rs. 62.5 million for mechanization.

¶ 05 Producers also faced heavy input costs; production costs rose. After we came to power, we reduced electricity bills and fuel prices — relief granted by the present Government. There is much more to say regarding the tea industry, but due to lack of time, I will conclude.

¶ 06 Next, on cinnamon: the world’s best cinnamon is in Sri Lanka — in the Galle District, in the Meetiyagoda area. An Opposition MP said the Department of Cinnamon Development should be abolished. No. Strengthening the Department is worthwhile. He called it a white elephant; that is not so. The Department’s officers are working with integrity to take it forward. Therefore, to take our cinnamon to the world, both the Department and the Ministry have prepared a major program, with short-term as well as long-term components. We are grateful to the Department’s officers, who are making great sacrifices with limited resources. Thank you, and I conclude.