Abstract:
The tea industry is one of the major supportive sectors in the Sri Lankan economy. Within the
industry, the plantation sector is considered as a highly labour-intensive sector that requires
a regular supply of labour throughout the year and the requirement is not only for the field
operation but also for manufacturing purposes. However, the registered labour are moving
from the estates, over one million upcountry Sri Lankans are employed in the tea industry.
The industry of tea contributes 12.6% of Sri Lanka’s GDP and 32% of the employments.
Displacement of labours from the Sri Lankan tea sector to other sectors in search of new
employment is a major challenge in the Sri Lankan context. Accordingly, present study the
challenges of the recent displacement of labours from the Sri Lankan tea industry is evidenced
from Sudhuwella GND (Hythe Land Estate, Sudhuwella estate, Green land estate, and
Littlevelly estate) in Kandy District. The study was based on the primary data collection method
through the structured questionnaire survey and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) was used
to obtain qualitative and quantitative information. Based on the stratified random sampling
technique, 100 questionnaires distributed within displaced labours families and FGD was held
within the selected group (Management level) in Sudhuwella GND. The results clearly
showed that 85 percent of tea plantation labours from the sample of the study, were
displaced due to the ownership changes, decline the interest from the tea industry, low monthly
income, the challenge of labour security, poverty, lack of education, expectations of high
lifestyle. The evidence from the study area identified challenges that low daily wage system,
Estate ownerships changes, Cost of living, Lack of facility, Poverty, Poor health care system,
Increased demand for skilled labours, Personal & social factors, and Lack of labour security.
Therefore this study recommended some proper strategical suggestions for reducing the
recent displacement and there challenges from the Sri Lankan tea industry and reconstructing the
tea industry sustainably.
