<span style="color: #222222;">Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has decided that the minimum daily wage of estate workers will be 1000 rupees with effect from 1st March. The decision came on eve of Thai Pongal as most of the estate workers are Tamils of Indian origin. The workers have been demanding the 1000 rupee wage since past few years and held several protests during previous government. Gotabaya has promised the hike in his election manifesto.<br />''</span><br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The government also decided to take swift measures to develop all areas of the plantation sector including infrastructure facilities. A statement said the government has taken several initiatives such as tax exemption, fertilizer subsidy to increase the quality of this vital sector. President emphasized that these benefits should pass onto the workers. He also said  the objective of the government is to avail opportunities for the workers to enjoy the perks of the growth in manufacturing and industrial sectors. </span><br />