The president of National Trade Union Centre (NTUC) K.D. Lal Kantha joined a demonstration on 23 March 2016 organised by the All Ceylon Estate Workers’ Union to demand that the authorities sign their collective agreement. It that had been delayed for more than a year and when implemented would increase their daily wage to Rs.1000 (USD 6.86), from 620.
The union was frustrated that the government showed no sign of making good on its promise to pressurise the employers to expedite signing of the collective agreement.
The government and employers later agreed on a daily rate of 730 rupees, pegged to higher daily yields, leading to further protests by workers on several plantations in October.