Dec 22, Galle: A tense situation erupted this morning in Galle, the capital city of Southern Sri Lanka, as small tea estate workers held a protest campaign demanding higher prices for tea leaves.

In the protest campaign someone has reportedly thrown a stone at the direction of police officers who were providing security. A vehicle passing by was hit and its driver has been injured, Galle police said.

Nearly 150 small tea estate workers have participated in the protest campaign and pointed out that their lives are in danger as the government is not intervening to solve the crisis tea smallholders are facing as the demand for their crop is falling due to the global financial meltdown. One person was arrested over the incident and further investigations are being conducted by the Galle police.

The crisis in small tea estates is one of the major issues in Sri Lanka at the moment and the estate owners repeatedly urge the government to redress their grievances.