The government has decided to establish the Hill Country Development Authority for the welfare of over one-million plantation community, which essentially comprises hill-country Tamils.

The new authority would be similar to the Southern Development Authority and will have a “strong institutional mechanism.”  It will carry out the functions of planning and coordination.  A few days ago, the Cabinet gave its nod for getting a bill drafted in this regard.

As per an official estimate, nearly one million people are residing in the estates and the plantation sector, as a whole, provides direct and indirect employment to 1.5 million people. Around 40 per cent of the residents of the estates belong to the category of non-workers.  The plantation sector — tea and rubber — contributes around 20 per cent of export earnings of Sri Lanka with $ 1,366 million in 2015.

At present, the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT), a body comprising representatives of the Sri Lanka government, regional plantation companies (RPC) and trade unions, is in place. Set up in 1992, the PHDT’s mandate is to implement social development programmes for the community.

1. Muthulingam, a Kandy-based prominent face of the community and who was involved in the formulation of the proposal for the body, told The Hindu that there would be no duplication of functions between the PHDT and the new set up. The latter will enjoy greater powers.