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

Minister K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna tabled the Annual Report of the Coconut Development Authority for the year 2022 and moved that it be referred to the Sectoral Oversight Committee on Environment, Agriculture and Sustainable Use of Resources. The motion was put to a vote and agreed to by the House.

Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure K.V. Samantha Viddyarathna requested a two-week extension to provide an answer to a question before the House.

Minister Viddyarathna clarified that while Regional Plantation Company (RPC) lands are subject to contractual constraints, Nagastenna falls under state ownership (JEDB), making resettlement more feasible. He stated that the government is prepared to facilitate resettlement of disaster-affected families on suitable lands, contingent on approvals from relevant coordinating committees, District Coordinating Committees, and National Building Research Organisation (NBRO) clearances. The Minister committed to informing plantation companies and proceeding with resettlement where appropriate land is identified.

The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure outlined the government's policy on land use within the plantation sector, emphasising the need to direct underutilised lands toward productive cultivation. He cited specific national targets, including increasing annual made-tea production from 262 million kg (2024) to 400 million kg by 2030 and growing export earnings from USD 1.4 billion to USD 2.5 billion over the same period. The Minister also addressed invasive alien species, stating government policy calls for their removal, while noting that fuelwood species on estates serve industrial fuel and revenue purposes. He confirmed that the Ministry of Environment's policy of replacing such species with indigenous cover where feasible would be followed in conjunction with these broader targets.

The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure provided detailed answers regarding the Nagastenna Estate in Yatiyantota, a 482.84-hectare property owned by the Janatha Estate Development Board (JEDB). He acknowledged that estate management had been suboptimal due to financial constraints, including a lack of fertilizer, agrochemicals, and replanting activity spanning nearly a decade, though inputs are now being restored. The Minister noted that of 164 resident families, 99 are unauthorized occupants; while legal action has been taken against five external encroachers, no evictions have been carried out against long-standing in-estate unauthorized residents due to social considerations. Approximately 138.26 hectares of underutilized land are being processed for leasing to private investors under a programme to productively utilize underperforming assets.

The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure acknowledged that underutilized estate lands are difficult to release due to existing lease agreements with Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs), citing the Deniyaya Hospital land dispute as an example of delays resolved only after government negotiation. He outlined the government's policy direction, in line with the President's position, that idle lands must be cultivated or sub-leased to capable parties in the national interest, with estate companies already notified of this requirement. Regarding state plantations (SLSPC, JEDB, and Elkaduwa Plantations), the Minister announced that several thousand acres have been advertised for lease and that a further approximately 5,000 acres will be advertised within six weeks through open, competitive processes. He also indicated that the government is considering action against private plantation companies that fail to cultivate or develop underutilized lands, and called on the House not to obstruct ongoing wage negotiations.

## Summary The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure outlined the government's housing initiatives for plantation communities, noting significant shelter deficits across multiple districts, including 2,159 families in temporary huts in Ratnapura alone. He highlighted two major housing programmes: a 10,000-unit project funded by the Government of India, with Sri Lanka providing infrastructure, and a separate domestic initiative of 2,026 houses for the Malaiyaha Tamil community launched in 2025 in Bandarawela. The Minister acknowledged construction challenges arising from difficult plantation terrain and post-cyclone NBRO re-evaluations requiring land reselection, while confirming that over 2,600 additional houses are expected under the Indian programme in 2026. He also announced that cyclone-damaged homes would receive Rs. 5 million in compensation, with line-room residents eligible despite lacking land title.

The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure provided a written parliamentary answer detailing housing stock and funding allocations for estate housing in the Ratnapura District. The district contains a total of 24,235 estate housing units across various categories, including single houses, twin cottages, line rooms, and temporary sheds. National funding allocations for estate housing development ranged from Rs. 300 million to Rs. 1,000 million annually between 2020 and 2025, with Ratnapura District specifically receiving Rs. 58.5 million in 2021 and Rs. 10.2 million in 2025. The Minister noted that ongoing projects are being expedited, with supporting annexures tabled before the House.

Minister Viddyarathna clarified that internal estate roads are legally the responsibility of private estate companies, not provincial or state authorities, as established under historical agreements. However, acknowledging the longstanding poor maintenance and its impact on line-room communities, the Government has intervened by allocating Rs. 100 million through the Ministry's infrastructure division for road repairs within estates. The Minister also indicated that the Government is engaging estate companies to ensure routine maintenance and intends to expand further support for estate community infrastructure.

The Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure clarified the division of responsibility regarding workers' rights violations in the plantation sector, noting that the Ministry of Labour holds primary jurisdiction for complaints and interventions. The Minister acknowledged that incidents are nonetheless sometimes reported to their ministry, and confirmed that in such cases, the ministry refers matters to the relevant legal authorities and engages with estate managements within its oversight capacity.