Estate workers in Thalawakale demand higher wages

COLOMBO (News 1st) - A protest was held in the Thalawakele town on Sunday (Sept 23) by the tea estate workers demanding that their daily wage be increased up to Rs. 1000. A number of trade unions joined the protest that was organised by the Tamil Progressive Alliance. Political representatives together with the Estate workers who gathered opposite the Lindula Municipal Council on the Hatton-Nuwara Eliya main road marched to the Thalawakele Municipal Council Grounds. All shops in the Thalawakele town were also closed in support of this protest. The protest saw the participation of estate workers from Nuwara Eliya, Badulla, and several other areas. Minister P. Digambaram stated that since the tea prices are currently at a good level if the companies cheat the people, that they would take measures to divide the tea estates among the workers. The Minister insisted that a reasonable wage should be provided this time. Meanwhile, State Minister of Education, V. S. Radhakrishnan, also stated that the government should intervene to solve the problem. Similar to the Railway protests that the President himself intervened in, the government and the Ministers should involve in solving the issue with regard to the daily wages of the estate workers.