A group of employees from estates in the Kandapola area staged a protest march yesterday (Jan 05), calling on the government to provide safer housing. 

The protest was staged by around 200 employees from the Concordia and Eskdale estates in the Kandapola area, which was severely affected by Cyclone Ditwah. 

Although authorities have informed them that they could return to their homes, the protesters argue that conditions remain unsafe. 

“Due to rain and winds, we cannot live there. They have sent half back to their homes, claiming that they have received assessment reports. How are we to return there, when there isn’t a proper road? They have said they will place a tree. How can we walk on that? We are living without peace. If they cannot do this, tell them to give us poison and kill us. Everyone turns up when it is the election. We have not received the Rs. 25,000 or Rs. 50,000 relief aid. We have not received anything. Now we are staying at a safety shelter at a temple. We are being fed. But, apart from this, we have not received any assistance from the government,” a protester said. 

The protesters have requested the government to heed their pleas and provide them with housing in safer locations. (Newswire)

The post Estate workers protest over unsafe housing in Kandapola appeared first on Newswire.

Three persons have been reported injured in a fire that erupted in a line house in the Shanon Watta area in Hatton last night. 

The Police said the injured persons had been admitted to the Dick Oya and Nawalapitiya Hospitals.

The fire had spread across 24 line houses causing severe damage, while the cause is yet to be ascertained.

However, the fire had been doused with the help of the Police, together with the Hatton Firebrigade and area residents. (Newswire)

The post Three injured in Hatton line house fire appeared first on Newswire.

The writ petition that was filed by 21 plantation companies challenging the Gazette issued increasing the daily minimum wage of an estate worker to Rs. 1700, was withdrawn from the Court of Appeal today.

A Gazette was issued earlier in May by the Ministry of Labour declaring that the minimum daily wage of a plantation worker would be increased to Rs. 1700.

In July, the government’s move was challenged in court by 21 plantation companies seeking a writ order invalidating the Gazette notification.

Following this, the Labour Ministry issued another Gazette cancelling the Gazette previously issued increasing the daily minimum wage of an estate worker from the tea and rubber industries to Rs. 1700 and directed the payments to be made through the Wages Board.

The writ petition filed by the 21 plantation companies against the increase in daily wage was taken up before Court of Appeal justices Sobhitha Rajakaruna and Dhammika Ganepola today. 

During the hearing, the lawyer representing the plantation companies had presented facts before the justices, and as the said Gazette notification had been cancelled by the government, had requested to withdraw the writ petition that was filed challenging it. (Newswire) 

The post Plantation companies withdraw petition challenging increase in daily minimum wage appeared first on Newswire.

Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles has issued a statement with regard to a remark made by a public representative in reference to an incident at the Ratwatte Estate in the Elkaduwa Plantation in the Matale District.

Stating that violence will not be allowed, Minister Alles stated that the public representative had claimed that it was their right to take action if the government and laws do not protect them. 

Minister Tiran Alles requested the estate community and the general public to refrain from taking the laws into their hands and to refrain from acting in such a manner.  

The minister warned that stringent action will be taken against those taking the laws into their hand and those aiding such behaviour by falling victim to incidents created by politicians and political parties aiming to secure votes for elections. (NewsWire)

The post Statement to public from Minister of Public Security appeared first on Newswire.