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| Saturday, 21 August 2004 |
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by L. B. Wijayasiri in Kandy Tea Small Holdings Development Authority (TSHDA) Chairman Tikiri Kobbekaduwa said that it was large scale tea plantation owners who had obtained loans from the 'Te Shakthi' Fund established to assist smallholders during the past. Many of them who had obtained loans, had defaulted so that he would have to take legal action to recover those loans. The Chairman revealed this when he addressed the anniversary meeting of the Tea Small Holders Development Association Kandy regional organisation at the YMCA Kandy recently. TSHDA set up Te Shakthi Fund to help smallholders. But unfortunately large scale Tea planters who had obtained loans from the fund, reap the benefits that should go to the smallholder. The irony was that this fund was built by contributions made by smallholders after pawning jewelleries and similar valuables of the members of their families. They did so with full hope for a better future, but all their dreams were shattered, Kobbekaduwa added. Kobbekaduwa added that he was glad to note that the contributions made to the fund by smallholders was Rs. 207 million and at present the fund was Rs. 1,538 million. He said it was seven folds of the contribution. Accordingly the smallholders had contributed to a large scale fund. It is therefore necessary to take steps to ensure that they be benefited by it. Legal steps would be taken to recover loans obtained from the fund to provide assistance to smallholders, he said. |
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