Plans afoot to uplift estate workers' living conditions

KALUTARA: Industrial Development Minister Kumara Welgama said that it has been planed to implement the consistent and a speedy programme to resolve the yet unresolved problems and difficulties of the Estate Workers in the Kalutara district.

The minister further said that as an initial step of the said programme; discussions have already been carried out with the State Infrastructure Development Minister C. B. Rathnayake and the ministry officials. The minister said that the relevant development activities would commence after the Local Government elections.

He was addressing a public rally held in Ambatennawatta, in Yatadolawatta to provide electricity, spending Rs. 8 million, with Asian Development Bank funds for 90 houses in areas including Yatadolawatta and Ambetennawatta in Matugama.

"We had less connection with estate people. It was a mistake on our part. Due to this, estate people moved away from us gradually. But, now we have developed a plan for it.

After the Local Government election we would get down the Minister of Infrastructure Development to these estates to look into their grievances.

Moreover, we would provide electricity to places without electricity. We will take steps to uplift the living conditions of the estate workers and their families through that ministry. We extend the hand of friendship to estate people rally around the United People's Freedom Alliance.

I have set aside Rs. 200 million to provide electricity to 'Pasdunkoralaya', when I was Deputy Minister of Electricity.

The Minister said that Cabinet approval has been granted to start 22 factories out of the 45 factories which are due to commence in the Pullertan Industrial Estate in the Kalutara district. The Cabinet approval for the remaining 23 factories will also be received. Minister Welgama further said that through these factories they would be able to provide employment to the children of the estate workers.

Opposition leader of the Matugama Pradesheeya Sabha Sriyananda Thewarapperuma and a large number of residents participated.