00:00The tea pickers in the Hatton Plateau are a backbone of their country's economy.
00:06They're working hard, yet they barely make a living.
00:09In the upcoming elections, they want to make their voices heard.
00:13They want to elect a leader who supports an estimated one million workers in tea farming.
00:18A leader who can improve their lives.
00:23Here in this area, there are over 100 families.
00:27And we have no help.
00:30Politicians come here promising this and that, but they are not helping us in any way.
00:37We don't have drinking water. There are no toilets.
00:42In one room, there are two or three families. We live with great difficulty.
00:50So we can't live like a slave in this country. We are not slaves.
00:54So we want equal rights, whatever the other community, but other publics are enjoying in this country.
01:00What are the facilities they are getting? We want the same facilities.
01:0530 percent of Sri Lankans are living below the poverty line.
01:09Unemployment is high. Statistics point to some economic growth for the country.
01:14However, most workers haven't felt it.
01:18Yet, after a dip in 2022, the economy is doing better.
01:23For this year, gross domestic product is expected to rise by 2.2 percent,
01:28with another uptick expected for next year.
01:33That's after Sri Lanka was hit by an economic crisis just two years ago.
01:38The country ran out of fuel, there was no heating gas, no medicine, even food was scarce.
01:46In May of 2022, the government was no longer able to service the country's debt.
01:52Following massive protests, President Rajapaksa resigned and fled the country.
02:01Before he left, he installed Ranil Vikramasinghe as interim president.
02:07But he is unpopular despite the economic situation currently improving.
02:12Many Sri Lankans are desperate for change.
02:35At least there's light at the end of the tunnel.
02:37Inflation is down, money is coming in.
02:40Not last because of Sri Lanka's growing tourism sector.
02:43After the unrest of recent years calmed down, travelers are coming back.
02:48And yet, Sri Lanka needs the support of the International Monetary Fund.
02:53Last year, the island state received three billion dollars tied to promises of reform, including ending import caps.
03:01Sri Lanka also has to cut deals with its creditors, but those negotiations will be difficult and take time.
03:10For more UN videos visit www.un.org
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