New Deal Seals Salary Hike for Plantation Workers

COLOMBO (News 1st); The Sri Lankan government today (30) finalized a long-awaited wage agreement that will raise the daily pay of estate workers.

The agreement was formally signed between the Ministry Plantation and Community Infrastructure and the The Planters' Association of Ceylon.

Ministry Secretary Prabath Chandrakeerthi and Planters’ Association Chairman Sunil Poholiadda exchanged the official documents, sealing a deal that directly impacts thousands of plantation workers whose wages have remained stagnant despite rising living costs.

Under the new structure, the daily wage of tea estate workers will increase from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,750, providing a much‑needed boost to one of the country’s most economically vulnerable communities.

The revised package includes:

Basic Wage: Increased from Rs. 1,350 to Rs. 1,550, a rise of Rs. 200

Attendance Allowance: An additional Rs. 200, to be paid by the government