Today, the Supreme Court issued an interim injunction order to halt the implementation of a Gazette notification that raised the daily wage of plantation employees to Rs. 1,700. The order was issued in response to an appeal petition filed by several plantation companies, including Agarapathana Plantations Ltd., challenging the legality of the wage increase.

A three-member bench of the Supreme Court, comprising Justices Gamini Amarasekara, Kumuduni Wickramasinghe, and Janak de Silva, granted the interim injunction pending further hearings. The court ruled that the injunction will remain in effect until the full petition challenging the Gazette notification is heard, scheduling the next hearing for August 28.

The petition, filed by 21 plantation companies, argues that the Minister of Labor's decision to issue the Gazette without consulting them violates principles of natural justice. The companies assert that the wage increase, which sets a minimum daily wage of Rs. 1,350 plus allowances, was implemented arbitrarily and without proper consultation.

The respondents named in the petition include Minister of Labor Manusha Nanayakkara and the Labor Commissioner. The companies seek an order from the Supreme Court invalidating the Gazette notification, emphasizing that the decision impacts their operations significantly.