📈 President Directs State Land Allocation for Returning Migrant Workers & Reviews Plantation Progress

• Policy & Land Reforms: President Anura Kumara Dissanayake instructed officials to formulate a program allocating underutilised State land and support services to returning Sri Lankan migrant workers for rural economic development. He also ordered a Finance Ministry review of past State land agreements and urged better execution of foreign-grant projects. • Financial Performance: The plantation sector recorded stronger YoY growth and improved profitability, with six State-owned plantation entities (including Elkaduwa, Kurunegala, and Chilaw Plantations) making significant financial gains. • Key Sector Highlights: • Tea: Rs. 155.07 Mn utilised out of Rs. 450.06 Mn allocated in the 2026 Budget for smallholder tea replanting (~60,000 ha). Directives issued to accelerate the 500 Tea Villages Program. • Cashew: Expected production of 18,000 tons this year against an annual requirement of 25,000 tons, with expansion targeted across ~15,000 hectares in Northern and Eastern Provinces. • Coconut, Rubber & Palmyrah: Progress noted across the Northern Coconut Triangle, Kapruka Fund, and Rs. 137 Mn Rubber Research Institute allocation, along with replanting relief following Cyclone Ditwah. • Community & Infrastructure: Ordered the timely completion of 10,000 houses allocated for the Malayagam community.