Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure, Samantha Vidyarathna, announced that a significant financial allocation has been made for the development of Sri Lanka’s tea industry in 2025.
For the first phase, Rs. 34.5 million has been allocated as a subsidy, while Rs. 17.5 million is set aside for the second phase to revitalize small tea estates. Additionally, Rs. 22.3 million has been allocated for arrears payments related to recultivation this year.
A new project to cultivate previously unused land has also been introduced, with Rs. 27.42 million allocated. To rehabilitate fallow lands on some estates, Rs. 5.5 million has been set aside under a crop rehabilitation program, while Rs. 6 million has been allocated for a direct tea cultivation subsidy. Another Rs. 2.62 million will support a subsidy project for planting fallow lands with tea.
To improve irrigation on tea estates larger than ten acres, Rs. 10 million has been allocated. Additionally, Rs. 35 million has been designated for a subsidy program to provide plastic boxes and nylon bags, enhancing raw tea leaf transportation and ensuring high-quality tea production.
Furthermore, Rs. 3 million has been set aside for capacity development programs for small tea estate owners. Minister Vidyarathna emphasized that a substantial portion of this year’s budget is focused on advancing Sri Lanka’s tea industry.
