Minister of Plantation Industries Navin Dissanayake inspected the Tea Small Holding Development Authority yesterday, at Pellawatte Battaramulla which is under the purview of his Ministry.

Attending the ceremony to mark the first anniversary of President Maithripala Sirisena in office, Minister Dissanayake laid the foundation stone for a ‘Budhu Madura’ in the authority premises. The Minister also discussed with the employees about issues concerning them.  Addressing the gathering Minister Navin Dissanayake said Tea Small Holding Development Authority is the most important institute under his Ministry. It is directly and immensely responsible for the tea production of the country. 

As we all know that in the past, 60 percent of the total tea production was done by the major tea holders. However it has changed. As at present, about 73 percent of the total tea production of the country is done by tea small holders. This revolutionary change is a strength for us. Therefore, Tea Small Holding Development Authority has a major responsibility to encourage tea small holders to develop the country, the Minister said. Speaking further Minister assured to fullfil the resources required to develop this authority through the Ministry to achieve the targets.  Chairman of the Tea Small Holding Development Authority and the Tea Shakthi Foundation Wijeratne Devagedara, Acting General Manager and Additional Secretary of the Ministry Ruwani Silva, Deputy General Manager I. T Fernando, Private Secretary to the Minister Thusitha Pulasinghe and other officials participated at this occasion.