FINANCIAL CHRONICLE – Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure has formalized an agreement with regional plantation companies (RPCs) to raise the daily wages of estate workers to 1,750 rupees, as stated in an official announcement.
The 2026 Budget proposal includes an increase of 400 rupees to the current daily wage of 1,350 rupees for estate workers, with the government contributing 200 rupees towards this increment. This adjustment will elevate the total daily earnings of an estate worker to 1,750 rupees.
The revised wage structure is set to take effect from January 1, 2026. However, this initiative has faced criticism from opposition members, who argue that the government is utilizing public funds to support private sector wages.
Sri Lanka’s RPCs are privately managed organizations that are engaged in the cultivation, production, and processing of tea, rubber, coconut, and cinnamon across various estates. These companies include Hayleys Plantations, which manages Kelani Valley, Talawakelle, and Horana, Browns Plantations, which oversees Maturata, Udapussellawa, and Hapugastenne, and Elpitiya Plantations.
(Colombo/Jan30/2026)
