Fear results in lower output on plantations

by P. Krishnaswamy

The fear now prevailing among the plantation community following stories of wanton attacks on womenfolk by extraneous elements has resulted in a marked drop in worker turnout, affecting productivity, according to reports.

The chairman of the Planters' Association of Ceylon (PA) Lalith Obeyasekera told the Sunday Observer that they are yet to make an assessment of the damage caused to the industry due to the drop in worker turnout. Several Managers of tea plantations in the Hatton, Watawala and Nawalapitiya tea production areas said that the worker turnout had dropped 25 - 40 percent during the past two weeks thereby affecting production. The fear psychosis was widespread among the worker community, they said.

Senior Manager Imbulpitiya Estate, Nawalapitiya R.C. Randeniya said that he had got the police deployed in the estate while five watchers have been put on special surveillance duty in and around tea plantations where pluckers work.

He said that most of the workers, including women, remained at home fearing that their children who are now at home on school holidays would be harmed.

Perhaps, the workers' traditional 'belief in myths' may have also been a contributory factor to the prevailing situation. Similar views were also expressed by other Estate Managers too.

Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) President and Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Muthu Sivalingam said that police protection has been provided to areas where workers had reported such incidents.