Sri Lanka cabinet clears relief package for disaster-affected export crops

Sri Lanka’s Cabinet of ministers has approved a relief package to support the re-cultivation of export crops — tea, rubber, and coconut — following weather damage in late 2025, minister Nalinda Jayatissa said.

Under the new relief scheme, the government will provide financial assistance to farmers based on the extent of their damaged land.

The maximum relief amounts a hectare are as follows:

Coconut: Up to 750,000 rupees a hectare
Tea: Up to 500,000 rupees a hectare
Rubber: Up to 400,000 rupees a hectare

The Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure had recommended these payments to the Treasury after assessing the scale of the disaster’s impact on these key industries, Jayatissa said.

Previously, approval was granted to provide relief for the re-cultivation of paddy, vegetables, and fruits.

The government has already begun the process of distributing benefits to farmers of minor export crops — including pepper, coffee, and cardamom — that were also affected.

source: Economy Next