Nov 30, Colombo: A new trade union federation was established this week in Sri Lanka's estate sector through a coalition of trade unions led by both government and opposition politicians and activists.

The newly formed Upcountry Trade Union Federation comprises 16 plantation trade unions. The action committee of this federation was established in Hatton on November 27th.

The Chairman of the federation is the leader of National Democratic Front, former MP Mano Ganeshan. Sri Lanka ruling coalition MPs P. Digambaram, Praba Ganeshan, Wadiwel Suresh and S. Arulsami are also the leaders of the trade unions of the federation.

The federation is to meet again on December 05 to discuss the issues of the plantation workers and to prepare an action plan to fight for their demands. The federation has also planned to have discussions with the estate sector employers' federation.