Sri Lanka High Commissioner to Malaysia Air Chief Marshal (Retd) Sumangala Dias visited Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) Headquarters – the Malaysian Government Agency that handles the settlement of rural people into newly developed areas and facilitate them to become small hold farmers growing cash crops (oil palm). The FELDA holds a land bank of approximately 900,000 hectares and nearly 470,000 hectares have been converted to productive palm cultivation through settlements.
During the visit, the High Commissioner was briefed by Deputy Director General (Corporate Services) Mahadzir Mustaffa and Head of Strategic Commutation Mastura on the history of FELDA, demography, management and organisational structure, settler benefits and FELDA road maps among others.
During his discussion with FELDA Chairman Tan Sri Idris Jusoh, High Commissioner Dias thanked for arranging the visit and inquired on the manpower requirements for plantations managed by the companies that come under the FELDA. The Chairman said that there is a requirement of manpower in the plantation sector and agreed to link the relevant management arm of the FELDA and extended his fullest support to provide jobs for Sri Lankan nationals depending on the availability of vacancies. The High Commissioner was also invited to visit one of the FELDA settlements