Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva stated that he had informed the Attorney General about the petition filed by 20 plantation companies against the Gazette Notification issued by the Government declaring the minimum daily wage of estate workers to be Rs 1,000.

The petition was filed by 20 plantation companies including Agarapathana Plantation Company and Elpitiya Plantation Company seeking the issuance of a writ order to annul the relevant Gazette Notification.

Labour Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, the Commissioner General of Labour and the Chairman of the Tea Industry Wage Control Board were named as respondents in the petition.

The petition was filed, noting that the tea industry could plunge into crisis over the relevant Gazette Notification issued.

The petition also states that the plantation companies have to pay a large amount of taxes to the government and that the increase in salaries could further inconvenience the companie