Low country teas younger, and soil more fertile, says Sec. Gen.

P. Rajaratnam Nuwara Eliya group correspondent

Addressing the 42nd Annual General Meeting of the Ceylon Planters Association (Nuwara Eliya Branch) the Secretary General of the P.A. Manil Goonatillake recalled of the fact that at a high level conference held in Colombo, the Minister of Plantation Industries D.M. Jayaratne wanted to know as to how the low country teas fetched a better price, with very high yields, whilst the high grown teas in the hillcountry were par below the standards.

It was explained to the Minister it as like the 150-year-old and the 25-year-old youth running in a race, Mr. Goonatillake went in detail to explain of the fact that the tea bushes were more than hundred and fifty years old in certain plantations, while the low country teas were very much younger and the soil too were fertile.

However, the Minister’s queries were clearly explained at a press briefing, when the journalists raised very pertinent questions and the issue was resolved, both in the hillcountry and the low country.

The Secretary General told a fully packed audience of the planting community at the Golf Club Auditorium, that large sums of money from the Asian Development Bank and other donor agencies were available towards upgrading the tea industry, and he wanted them to make the best use of such colossal amounts towards the industry and other allied fields.

He also said under the present Government rapid development programmes were undertaken in the plantation sector, and hence, he wanted the planters to ensure that such programmes achieved their goal and targets.

The chairman of the Nuwara Eliya branch Thusil Tissera, stressed the need for the planting community to involve themselves in setting up of peace committees in their respective areas falling in line with the Police and other government agencies.

The officials from the Red Cross Colombo and Nuwara Eliya branches explained the various training schemes which were available free and the planters to make the best use of them.

Consultant of the Employers Federation of Ceylon Dhananjaya Jayakody, Attorney-at-Law spoke on the role of Managers and vividly explained that their role was an important one on the very fabrics of the economy since it was the biggest industry which brought colossal economic sustenance for the entire country and the people.

He went on to explain in length in relationship with the labour laws and stressed the need for the managerial skills towards equipping themselves in the basic laws and the current amendments.

An official from the Micro-power Engineering Company explained on lightning in relation to testing of lightning air termination system, which will be very vital for factories, bungalows and residences to protect them from such natural disasters.

Harsha Wickremasinghe, Secretary of the P.A. Nuwara Eliya branch proposed the vote of thanks.