CWC to oppose allocation of prime planation lands

Deputy Minister of Estate Infrastructure Development, Muthu Sivalingam said that the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) would vehemently oppose steps currently being initiated to allot prime plantation lands in the Nuwara Eliya district to families of the majority community who were affected in the landslides.

He was addressing a recent meeting at the parliamentary complex to discuss the issue relating to the acquisition of plantation lands for colonised settlements in respect of families affected by landslides. The meeting was convened by a special committee appointed by President Mahinda Rajapakse with Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake as the chairman.

The Deputy Minister said that 150 acres in Alma Estate, 300 acres in High Forest Estate, 204 acres in St. Lenard's Estate and 100 acres in Delmar Estate, all in the Nuwara Eliya area have been earmarked for acquisition for the proposed colonised settlement scheme in respect of families who were affected in the recent landslides in Walapane.

The CWC has brought this matter to the notice of the President to ensure that no such prime tea lands are acquired for the purpose, he said.