Ministry calls for urgent attention :

Implement disaster management guidelines, Regional plantations told

by Manjula Fernando

Regional plantation companies have been asked to take immediate steps to implement the disaster management guidelines by the National Building Research Organisation (NBRO), the state disaster watchdog in the aftermath of Wednesday’s landslide tragedy in Meeriyabedda, Haldummulla.

Plantation Industries Ministry Secretary Dr. Damitha De Zoysa had written to the 22 regional plantation companies on Friday seeking urgent attention to the NBRO notices.

Hence the companies will need to facilitate relocation of plantation workers in landslide and other risk-prone areas urgently. Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Samarasinghe said that the Government will look after the disaster-hit estate workers in Meeriyabedda but it was incumbent upon the plantation companies to heed disaster warnings and ensure that the workers are kept away from any danger. “They need to heed the NBRO warnings,” he said.

The line room occupants in disaster-hit Meeriyabedda, were working on the Ampitiya estate, a division of the Koslanda plantations, owned by the Maskeliya group.

Badulla District Secretary Rohana Keerthi Dissanayake said that Regional Managers of plantation companies were assisting state officials who are helping the affected estate workers.

He said the government has identified a land in close proximity to the Ampitiya estate to relocate the affected families and is awaiting NBRO approval for settlement.