'You Are Our Own People': President Promises Greater Rights for Estate Communities

COLOMBO (News 1st): Estate communities will be granted stronger protections and safeguards under future agreements with plantation companies, while a new Central Highlands Protection Authority is expected to be established by the end of this year or early next year, President Anura Kumara Dissanayake announced on Friday (28).

The President made the pledge while handing over the Navodhayapuram Housing Project to 50 families who lost their homes in the devastating landslide that struck the Kabaragala area of Poonagala, Haldummulla in Badulla.

President Dissanayake said the government is committed to ensuring a dignified life and equal rights for estate communities, whom he described as an integral part of Sri Lankan society.

"I assure you that we are committed to ensuring that you enjoy full rights and a dignified life in this country as our own brothers and sisters," the President said.

Acknowledging that land ownership remains one of the most pressing concerns facing plantation communities, the President said estate workers have made a significant contribution to the country for generations but continue to face challenges in securing land rights.

He noted that the agreements governing plantation companies are due to expire by 2042 and revealed that the relevant Ministry has already appointed a committee to review those agreements.

According to the President, the government intends to address those agreements well before their expiry and ensure that future agreements contain stronger provisions aimed at protecting the rights and interests of estate communities.

"When new agreements are negotiated, a key priority will be the inclusion of provisions that safeguard and protect the rights of these communities," he said.

President Dissanayake also used the occasion to draw attention to the growing environmental challenges facing Sri Lanka's Central Highlands, which he described as the country's ecological and economic heartland.

He emphasized that 103 rivers and streams originate from the Central Highlands, making the region vital to agriculture, water resources, environmental sustainability and national economic activity.

"The Central Highlands represent the very heart of Sri Lanka," he said.

Warning of the consequences of decades of unplanned and unsustainable development, the President pointed to the increasing frequency of landslides across the country.

He observed that while landslides were once a relatively rare occurrence, Sri Lanka is now witnessing thousands of incidents, including more than 1,200 major landslides reported during recent adverse weather events.

The President said the trend raises urgent questions about the future of the Central Highlands and the long-term environmental security of the country.

"We are witnessing its destruction before our very eyes," he warned.

To address those concerns, President Dissanayake announced plans to establish a Central Highlands Protection Authority, backed by special legislation being drafted with the support of the Asian Development Bank.

The proposed authority will bring together the responsibilities currently spread across multiple government departments and institutions under a single body dedicated to protecting the region.

According to the President, restoring the Central Highlands to their former condition could take decades. However, he stressed that immediate action must be taken to halt practices contributing to environmental degradation.

He said the new authority would serve as a unified mechanism to safeguard one of Sri Lanka's most valuable natural assets while ensuring the long-term sustainability of the country's water resources, environment and agricultural sector.