2026-02-18 / oral_question: Oral Question Q.1542/2025 - Nagastenna Estate Ownership and Management

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

2026-02-18

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.

Hon. Speaker, national economic and social needs require optimal land use. Our Ministry is committed to directing underutilized lands to productive cultivation, aligned with national targets—for example, increasing annual made-tea from about 262 million kg in 2024 to 400 million kg by 2030, and raising export earnings from about USD 1.4 billion to USD 2.5 billion by 2030. On invasive alien species, the Government’s policy is to remove them. Regarding fuelwood species used by the tea industry, some stands exist to meet industrial fuel needs and to generate estate revenue. The Environment Ministry’s policy is to maintain forest cover with appropriate indigenous species wherever feasible. We will proceed in line with these policies and targets.