President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has committed to strengthening rights for plantation estate workers and establishing a new Central Highlands Protection Authority by early next year, citing escalating environmental degradation in the region.
President Anura Kumara Dissanayake pledged on Friday to enhance protections for estate communities while handing over housing to families displaced by a recent landslide in Badulla. The President described plantation workers as integral to Sri Lankan society and promised stronger safeguards and equal rights, stating that the government views them as "our own brothers and sisters." He acknowledged that land ownership remains a critical challenge for these communities despite their generational contributions to the nation's economy.
Recognizing that agreements governing plantation companies expire in 2042, the President announced that his government has already formed a committee to review these arrangements. Future agreements will prioritize provisions protecting estate workers' rights and interests, he said, emphasizing the need to address these matters well before their expiration dates.
Dissanayake also highlighted the deteriorating environmental condition of the Central Highlands, which he characterized as Sri Lanka's ecological and economic heartland. The region serves as the source for 103 rivers and streams critical to agriculture and water security. The President warned of a dramatic increase in landslides, noting over 1,200 major incidents during recent adverse weather, and attributed this to decades of unplanned development. He stated the country is "witnessing its destruction before our very eyes."
To address these challenges, the President announced plans to establish a Central Highlands Protection Authority by the end of this year or early next year, supported by special legislation and Asian Development Bank assistance. The unified authority will consolidate responsibilities currently distributed across multiple government departments, though the President acknowledged that restoring the region could require decades of effort.
