Around 30 tea factories in Kelani river floodplain submerged
Around 30 tea storage facilities and tea packing factories operating in the Kelani River floodplain have been destroyed after being inundated by floodwaters, according to the Tea Exporters’ Association.The destruction includes processing centres and warehouses where tea prepared for export was stored.It has been revealed that machinery and equipment at these centres have been damaged due to the rising flood levels of the Kelani River.As their business operations have come under severe strain, the factory owners have submitted four proposals to the Government through the Tea Board.
The proposals have been put forward jointly by the Tea Exporters’ Association and the Small and Medium Exporters’ Association.The exporters have requested concessionary loans at low interest rates to rebuild their factories and warehouses, the reinstatement of the abolished Simplified VAT (SVAT) scheme or, alternatively, for VAT refunds to be processed within 45 days, as well as the establishment of a mechanism for the speedy settlement of insurance claims.
Commissioner General of Essential Services, B. K. Prabath Chandrakeerthi, stated that a comprehensive assessment is being carried out regarding the damage caused to tea cultivation by Cyclone Ditwah.Representatives of the Tea Smallholders’ Associations said they are currently gathering information on the damage sustained by the plantation sector. They also noted difficulties in obtaining information from certain plantation areas due to disruptions in telephone connectivity.