The president said that by 2048, the government has planned for rapid development.

President Ranil Wickremesinghe said that seven plantation companies have agreed to the Government’s decision to provide a daily wage of 1700 rupees to plantation workers. President Wickremesinghe was addressing the Kandy District Plantation Labour Unions and Youth Leaders’ meeting organised by the Ceylon Workers’ Congress at the Karaliya Convention Centre and Centre for Performing Arts, Kandy yesterday. The President said that workers’ welfare funds, which had been neglected for many years, will be paid starting next year. The issues faced by the Tamil community in the hill country were directly presented to the President and he responded positively to their concerns. The President said the people have faced severe hardships over the past two years. He added that the government has managed to bring the economy to a more stable level. While the country’s economic issues are not entirely resolved, the government has provided significant relief to the people, easing their burdens compared to 2022. The president said that by 2048, the government has planned for rapid development. The people must also decide whether they want leaders who will guide the country forward or those who are more focused on personal pursuits. For many years, workers’ welfare funds have not been disbursed to the working class. The government has plan to start paying these funds from next year, as the country’s economy is recovering and the Government is now in a position to provide this support. In recent years, the people working in the plantation sector have endured significant hardships. While other workers have received salary increases and farmers have been provided with better income, relief has not yet reached the plantation workers, he said.