Plantation companies petition the Court of Appeal: seek an order quashing wage increase

  The petitioners feared that the plantations industry will have to face dire consequences if they implemented the decision to increase the wages of the workforce up to Rs 1000 per day. The plantation companies have therefore gone before the Court of Appeal seeking a writ of mandamus quashing the gazette issued by the Labour department giving effect to the decision to increase the wages of the plantation workers. The petitioners in this case are; Agarapatana Plantations Limited, Balangoda Plantations PLC, Elpitiya Plantations PLC, Horana Plantations PLC, Hapugastenne Plantations PLC, Kahawatte Plantations PLC, Kegalle Plantations PLC, Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, Kotagala Plantations PLC, Madulsima Plantations PLC, Malwatte Valley Plantations PLC, Maskeliya Plantations PLC, Natural Plantations Limited, Namunukula Plantations PLC, Talawakelle Tea Estates PLC, Udapussallawa Plantations PLC, Watawala Plantations PLC, Hatton Plantations PLC, Bogawantalawa Plantations PLC and Lalan Rubbers (Pvt)  Ltd. The petitioners had named Minister of Labor Nimal Siripala de Silva, Chairman of Wage Board for tea, rubber growing and manufacturing trade Prabath Chandrakeerthi and several others as respondents. The gazette notification on increasing the daily wage of estate workers to Rs. 1000 was published on March 9. This increase comprises Rs.900 as the Minimum daily wage and Rs.100 as a Budgetary Relief Allowance.