Cabinet approves relief package for export crops hit by extreme weather

Wednesday, 11 March 2026 01:54 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Cabinet Spokesman and Minister

Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa

The Cabinet of Ministers on Monday approved a financial relief package to support replanting of tea, rubber and coconut following extreme weather conditions that struck the country toward the end of November 2025, causing extensive damage to key export crops.

Under the approved scheme, affected tea cultivators will be eligible for relief payments of up to Rs. 500,000 per hectare, while rubber plantation owners can receive up to Rs. 400,000 per hectare. Coconut growers will be entitled to the highest level of compensation, with payments reaching up to Rs. 750,000 per hectare depending on the severity of the damage.

The decision follows an earlier Cabinet approval to provide relief to farmers whose field crops, vegetables, fruits and minor export crops including; pepper, coffee and cardamom were devastated during the same period of extreme weather.

Addressing the weekly post-Cabinet meeting media briefing yesterday, Cabinet Spokesman and Minister Dr. Nalinda Jayatissa said authorities have already begun implementing assistance for those affected sectors.

He said the latest relief program for plantation crops was formulated after the Plantation and Community Infrastructure Ministry submitted a detailed assessment to the General Treasury outlining the need for support to restore damaged estates.

“The compensation will be provided based on the extent of the losses suffered, with the objective of enabling growers to replant affected areas and restore production capacity as quickly as possible,” he added.

Crops such as tea, rubber and coconut form a major pillar of the country’s agricultural economy, supporting thousands of smallholders as well as large estates.

Dr. Jayatissa said by providing targeted financial assistance for replanting, the Government aims to accelerate recovery in the plantation sector and mitigate the longer-term economic impact of the weather-related damage on both producers and export revenues.

The proposal to this effect was presented by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake in his capacity as the Finance, Planning and Economic Development Minister.