The employees of Kurunegala Plantation Corporation took to streets to check the government’s attempts to sell off the valuable lands of the company.
The Inter Company Employees’ Union launched a protest on 4th April 2024 against the government’s decision to sell off 50 acres of land of Ramawanawaththa, a property of Kurunegala Plantations Limited.
The government says the land would be used for a state owned university to be built in the future.
There are 4000 coconut trees and 2000 mango plants in this land. The coconut trees are around 30 years mature and bear a crop of 250 000 coconuts per annum worth Rs. 12 500 000. This also provides employment opportunities for around 1000 people.
According to the trade union, the company has proposed a 72 acre land suitable for construction but the government wants to exploit this piece of fertile land.
The government has also given a lot of its property for private use. The proposed 76 acre plot is such a property. That is why the government is not interested in moving its project there. Instead, the authorities are adamant on destroying 50 acres of Ranawanawaththa that yield a sizable revenue for the state.
The job security of the 1000 employees has also become a major concern. The police intervened and assaulted the protestors but the government had to postpone the aquisition of the land to a future date.
The Inter Company Employees’ Union will take drastic measures in the near future against the use of state owned lands for ruinous ends and any impact that might have on the employees who work on those lands.
