President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has committed to incorporating new safeguards for plantation estate communities in upcoming commercial agreements, as existing contracts approach expiration.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has pledged to introduce protective measures for estate community rights in future agreements with plantation companies. Speaking at the opening of the Navodayapuram housing project in Poonagala, Badulla, the President indicated that new contractual clauses will be prioritized to secure the welfare of estate workers, particularly regarding their access to land and broader community interests.
According to the President, the government expects to renew agreements with plantation companies in the coming period, with current contracts set to expire by 2042. The administration is working to ensure that fresh arrangements include provisions specifically designed to protect estate communities during the renewal process.
Beyond the plantation sector, the President announced plans to establish a Central Highlands Protection Authority before the end of the year or early next year. This new body will consolidate regulatory powers spanning biodiversity conservation, soil preservation, forest management, wildlife protection, irrigation management, and agricultural oversight within the Central Highlands region.
The President's remarks came during the inauguration of the Navodayapuram housing initiative, which delivers housing relief to 50 families displaced by the 2023 Kabaragala landslide. The project provides each family with a 10-perch plot and a fully equipped 550-square-foot house, implemented as part of the government's broader "A Rich Country – A Beautiful Life" development policy.
