Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyaratne, has emphasized that 5,400 houses for estate workers in the hill country must be completed before the end of this year. Speaking at a function held at the Hatton Thondaman Vocational Training Center, the minister highlighted that the housing project, supported by Indian aid, had faced political interference and delays.
The minister pointed out that while 1,300 houses were scheduled to be built last year, they remain incomplete. As a result, an additional 4,700 houses must be constructed in 2025 to meet the housing needs of estate workers. He assured that the government, in collaboration with Indian assistance, is committed to finishing the project, ensuring that houses are allocated based on necessity rather than political affiliations.
Minister Vidyaratne further stressed that special attention is being given to estate housing located in landslide-prone areas, working in partnership with the Building Research Institute to ensure the safety of residents.
Sharing insights from a recent visit to Keppotapola Asana in the Badulla district, the minister noted that despite 50 estate houses being constructed, only five families were actually residing in them. He revealed that many of the houses had been leased or rented out, while estate workers continued to live in overcrowded line rooms.
“In some estate homes, two or three families share a single room. Just recently, I visited the Haguranketha Kabaragala estate in the Nuwara Eliya district, where a fire broke out in the line rooms, leaving about 20 families homeless. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Criticizing the disparity in housing conditions, he remarked:
“While estate families live in overcrowded and unsafe conditions, some politicians’ pets enjoy better living spaces in luxurious homes. We will not allow such injustices to continue. Providing dignified housing for estate workers is not a privilege; it is a fundamental human right. It is our responsibility as a government to ensure that right is upheld.”
The event also marked the official enrollment of new students at the Hatton Thondaman Vocational Training Center, which operates under the Ministry of Plantations and Community Infrastructure. The center aims to equip unemployed youth from estate communities with vocational skills for better employment opportunities.
A total of 250 students were admitted to various courses, including motor mechanics, nursing assistance, electrical work, pre-school teaching, beauty salon management, welding, carpentry, and hotel industry training. The training programs range from six months to one year, depending on the course.
Minister Vidyaratne highlighted the importance of vocational training, stating that many young people from the plantation sector, after completing these programs, secure employment in both the public and private sectors. The vocational center was originally established to support estate youth who lack higher education opportunities, enabling them to pursue self-employment or skilled professions.
Following the ceremony, the minister and other dignitaries participated in a tree-planting program at the vocational training center as part of an environmental initiative.
Deputy Minister of Plantations and Community Infrastructure, Sundaralingam Pradeep, along with senior officials including Ms. Krishnan Kalaichelvi and Ministry Secretary B.K. Chandrakirthi, also attended the event.
With the government’s renewed focus on estate housing and vocational training, Minister Vidyaratne reaffirmed his commitment to addressing the long-standing challenges faced by Sri Lanka’s estate communities.
