{
  "id": 9449010,
  "title": "Planters’ Association Chairman proposes 5-point plan for industry revival at 172nd AGM",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/planters-association-chairman-proposes-5-point-plan-for-industry",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-09-23T23:57:42.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Island Sri Lanka",
    "slug": "the-island-sri-lanka",
    "url": "http://island.lk/planters-association-chairman-proposes-5-point-plan-for-industry-revival-at-172nd-agm/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Shanaka Samaradiwakara, CEO of Malwatte Valley Plantations PLC, was elected Chairman of the Planters' Association of Ceylon (PAC) at the 172nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on September 19th at the Cinnamon Grand. Accompanying him as Deputy Chairman was Binesh Pananwala, the CEO of Kahawatte Plantations PLC. Central Bank Governor Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe and Sri Lanka Tea Board Chairman Raj Obeyesekere attended as Chief Guest and Guest of Honour respectively.\n\nSamaradiwakara unveiled a five-point plan for the revival of the plantation sector, emphasizing value addition, research and development, land-use and productivity, irrigation, and security of tenure. The chairman highlighted that value-added tea, which now constitutes over half of 2025's total tea exports, is a key contributor to the sector's growth. Regional Plantation Companies (RPCs) have been instrumental in achieving this success through substantial investments, including recent ventures into matcha, green tea, and artisanal teas.\n\nSpeaking about value addition, Samaradiwakara urged the Sri Lanka Tea Board and the export sector to collaborate in safeguarding this burgeoning high-value segment, as large quantities of unsold green tea and other high-value products continue to flood the market. He implored authorities to review the situation and introduce measures to bolster domestic production and value addition. Turning to research and development, he stressed the need for commercially viable alternatives to essential crop protection products, urging the Tea, Rubber, and Coconut Research Institutes to lead the charge. He also emphasized the urgency of addressing the rubber industry's disease threat, warning against repeating the devastating impact of coffee blight.\n\nThe chairman addressed land-use policies and productivity, noting that RPCs have diversified over the past two decades in response to shifting rainfall patterns, integrating crops like oil palm, pepper, and avocado. However, these investments are under threat due to unsupportive policies, agricultural theft, and wildlife damage, resulting in significant financial losses for companies. He stressed the importance of robust enforcement, regulatory reforms, and measures to combat agricultural theft and crop damage.\n\nRegarding irrigation, Samaradiwakara called on the government to relax restrictions on groundwater use and streamline approvals for drilling tube wells to enhance climate resilience. Lastly, he highlighted the critical role of security of tenure, noting that the lengthy replanting process and uncertainties surrounding lease extensions hinder the attraction of foreign direct investment and long-term financing. Samaradiwakara concluded by asserting that secure tenure is a prerequisite for attracting fresh capital, accelerating replanting, modernizing plantations, and boosting productivity.",
  "summary": "Malwatte Valley Plantations PLC Director / CEO, Shanaka Samaradiwakara was appointed as Chairman of the Planters’ Association of Ceylon (PAC), while Kahawatte Plantations PLC Director / CEO Binesh Pananwala, was appointed as Deputy Chairman at the Association’s 172nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 19 September at the Cinnamon Grand. The event was graced by Central […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}