Cabinet Spokesman Bandula Gunawardena said that the committee will decide the best way forward for 22 plantation companies given on lease by the government.

He said if these companies are unable to even pay the daily wage of their employees then it is better to cut short the lease and give them over to new owners.

Plantation companies had recently insisted that no final decision had been taken on the Rs. 1700 minimum daily wage despite an announcement made by President Ranil Wickremesinghe at a May Day rally.