Govt. steps up support for plantation sector

• After successful tea auction, semi-automated system for coconut auction on Thursday 
• New phone lines opened to report issues directly to top Ministry officials 
• Tea, rubber, coconut smallholders assisted to transport goods continuously 
• Sugarcane and cashew to also be supported to carry on operations 

The Government yesterday assured it will support the plantation sector to continue operations with minimum disruptions from COVID-19 with new measures to be implemented including a semi-automated system to be introduced for the coconut auction on Thursday. 

Following the success of the first-ever electronic or online auction for tea, the Ministry was working to set up a semi-automated system for the coconut auction this week. Dedicated phone lines have also been established with the Ministry Secretaries also reachable for sector stakeholders to reach out to with issues that need to be resolved.   

Tea, rubber, coconut, and other export plantation industries will be allowed to continue operations despite the current situation in the country, Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Minister Ramesh Pathirana said yesterday.

Mainly considering the need to strengthen the country’s economy amid the challenging situation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Special Task Force for Essential Services, headed by former Minister Basil Rajapaksa, met on 4 April and took several decisions to ensure the above industries continue operations without any setbacks.

“While maintaining the economy of the country, we made decisions to provide an environment so that those who ensure the sustainability of tea, rubber and coconut and other export industries do not face any difficulties,” Pathirana said, adding that all industries and individuals had to operate under the guidelines of the health and law enforcement sectors.

“Tea, coconut, and rubber, which are export industries that contribute to the revenue of Sri Lanka, as well as export crops will be allowed to operate continuously,” Pathirana said.

As per the decisions taken by the Special Task Force for Essential Services, the plucking, transportation, storage, and auctioning of tea will be allowed and small plantation owners, plantation organisations, factories, brokers, and exporters can continue operations.

As for the coconut industry, germinating, plating, transport of planting material, plucking and husking, staff transport, auctions, transport to warehouses, and exporting will be allowed as would rubber tapping, transportation, factory operations, production, and exporting in the rubber industry.

Pathirana added that sugarcane, cashew, and other small-scale exports will also be given the freedom to continue operations.

He also explained that the demand for rubber and rubber products like gloves in the global markets had risen and such measures would allow the local industry to supply to this demand.

The Government has also set up special lines for those in the industry to report any setbacks they face when carrying out operations and Plantation Industries and Export Agriculture Secretary Ravindra Hewavitharana said Additional Secretary Aruni S. Ranasinghe can be contacted via +94 71 4415 160 on these matters.

Individuals can also contact the relevant authorities on +94 71 1692 692 via WhatsApp or Viber or send an email to [email protected].

“All relevant parties have been informed of the decisions taken by the Special Task Force for Essential Services on 4 April but if there are any barriers to these activities, we can be informed about them,” Hewavitharana said.