The Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, I think Hon. Jeevan Thondaman has some doubts, so I rise to clarify. Especially on plantation workers’ wages, we as a Government have continuously intervened. You know wages are usually increased by Collective Agreement. If we waited for that, it would take another one and a half years; the agreement still has time. Regarding your question on wage increases: as the President promised in the last Budget, we would take maximum measures. Accordingly, after discussions with the planters’ associations, they agreed to add Rs. 200 to the basic salary, and a further Rs. 200 as an attendance incentive. The Government will reimburse the Rs. 200; we have told them how. This decision will be implemented from January 1, after the Budget is passed on December 5. Funds are allocated. From January, Rs. 200 will be added to the basic, and Rs. 200 as incentive. For 25 days of work, workers will receive Rs. 10,000 more monthly. We guarantee this.