Dec 30, Colombo: Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa yesterday (29) held discussions at the President’s Office with the tea small holders on the issues their industry is facing due to the drop in demand for tea globally.

Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka, Minister of Youth Affairs Pavithra Wanniarachchi, Deputy Minister of Livestock Resources Mutthu Sivalingam, Secretary to the President Lalith Weeratunga and Treasury Secretary S. Abeysinghe also participated in the discussion. Sri Lanka's tea small holders say they are in utmost difficulty due to the reduction of tea prices caused by declining demand amidst global financial crisis.

[Pictures by Chandana Perera]