- Since the tea factory owners are in a financially constraint situation due to the decline in prices of tea, as a result of the problematic situation prevails in the world market, it has been planned to implement a Loan Scheme to meet the working capital required to maintain tea factories. Accordingly, the proposal made by Hon. Lakshman Kiriella, the Minister of Plantation Industries, to implement this Loan Scheme for all tea factory owners, through the state and commercial banks, and to provide an interest subsidy of 2% per annum on the loans provided under the said loan scheme, to the relevant financial institution by the General Treasury, for a period of 02 years, was approved by the Cabinet.