A New Orientation to the Plantation Sector

Qualitative development of the Plantation Sector is important to achieve national prosperity. The Plantation Sector is one of the main foreign income earning sectors in our economy. Its impacts extend beyond the economy to society and the environment as well.

A sustainable plantation sector should focus on the three dimensions of sustainability; economic, social and environmental. Creating productive and profitable economic opportunities through crop diversification and value addition, upgrading the living standards of people engaged in estate labor through equitable distribution of earnings, optimal utilization of land and taking steps to preventing land degradation are some aspects to be considered in building a sustainable plantation sector.

With the objective of mainstreaming Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) into the Action Plans and Programmes of the Ministry of Plantation and strengthening the statistical capacities of relevant institutions to monitor progress, a workshop was conducted by the Sustainable Development Council of Sri Lanka (SDCSL) on Wednesday, 10th February for officials of the Ministry of Plantation, the state ministries and the institutions within their purview.  The discussions focused on aligning the proposed policy targets and strategies in the National Policy Framework ‘Vistas of Prosperity and Splendour’ with the SDGs Framework and generating data on several SDG indicators relevant to the plantation sector..

Under the leadership of the Minister of Plantation Hon. Dr. Ramesh Pathirana, the workshop was attended by State Minister Hon. Kanaka Herath, Secretary Mr. Ravindra Hewavitharana and senior officials of the Ministry of Plantation, State Ministries and heads and senior officials of all the institutions coming within the purview of the ministries, including the Department of Export Agriculture, Coconut Development Board and Sri Lanka Rubber Development Board.

The technical discussions were facilitated by the SDCSL Director General, Chamindry Saparamadu, Assistant Directors Nadeeka Amarasinghe and Sheron Hewawaduge with the technical inputs provided by officials of the Department of Census and Statistics led by Director General Mr. Anura Kumara, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO).