• Plantations and Community Infrastructure Min. claims renewed haste to allocate land to the estate community sector.  
• Farmers can obtain Dec. pensions until 31st from post offices/sub-post offices on any working day 

The Government plans to expedite the programme to provide plots of land to families living in estate housing, taking into account the difficulties faced by the  estate community sector, particularly in the aftermath of recent natural disasters, stated the Plantations and Community Infrastructure Ministry.

Speaking to The Daily Morning, the Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep said that the long-discussed proposal to allocate land to estate sector families has taken on a new urgency in the wake of the natural disasters, as well as the continuing hardships faced by the estate community sector.

He said that discussions are now underway on providing each family with about 10 perches of land, though no final decision has been reached. “This matter has been under discussion for several years. Given the current situation, particularly after the recent disasters, we are keen to move ahead with the programme without further delay,” he said.

Estate sector communities in Districts such as Kandy, Badulla, Matale, and Nuwara Eliya have been among the worst affected by recent natural disasters, including landslides, flooding, and adverse weather. Many families living in line rooms and vulnerable housing structures have subsequently suffered damage to their homes, loss of livelihoods, and displacement.

During the previous Government, then Estate Infrastructure Minister, Jeevan Thondaman said that a programme would be launched to provide land to the plantation-based families after identifying suitable lands and eligible beneficiaries. He said that more than 200,000 families were expected to benefit, that a dedicated Secretariat would be established to coordinate the process, and that Rs. 4 billion had been allocated by the then Government for the initiative.

Meanwhile, the Government has decided to extend the payment period for farmers’ pensions until 31 December. The Agricultural and Agrarian Insurance Board announced that farmers can now collect their pension payments from the relevant post offices or sub-post offices on any working day throughout December. Under normal circumstances, pensions for farmers are disbursed between the 9th and 15th of each month. This extension has been granted in consideration of the transportation difficulties faced by pensioners due to damage to access roads leading to post offices caused by the cyclone. At present, 178,753 farmers and 6,312 fishers receive pension benefits. The Board further noted that a total of Rs. 413 million has been allocated for the payment of pensions for December.