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The Colombo Tea Traders Association [CTTA] warned yesterday, "due to the current situation in the industry reeling from Satyagraha, go-slow, disruption and intimidation of planters, Rs. 50 billion worth Sri Lankan tea market has faced a great threat of loosing the international tea market. The traders have complained, although western quality season has begun while Sri Lanka enjoying excellent whether conditions which enables to produce variety of flavoured tea, current disruption has threatened the tea market. Minister of Estate infrastructure and livestock development Arumugam Thondaman said, "Satyagraha campaign will continue till they win their reasonable demands." The CTTA spokesperson has said, Sri Lanka has been maintaining reputation for reliability in production, highly streamlined auction system and a competent export sector for a long time in the international tea market. With the curtailment and movements blocking the production would ultimately lead to the international market loosing faith on Sri Lankan tea market and quality will suffer immensely. "This would have an immediate negative impact on producers land exporters and the country's image internationally will surely be tarnished." the spokesman said. The association claimed that a wage increase have been demanded by workers without a collective agreement being in force. CTTA said, devaluation allowance granted by the government in the middle of last year related to employees have not covered by a collective agreement or either they have not received Rs. 400 salary increase. The collective agreement wage increase for plantation workers was finalised in July 2000, due to the weakening of the rupee and other cost increases. This increase of wages enabled the workers to earn an additional Rs. 500 per month.
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