The Hon. Mano Ganesan

¶ 01 If it is not being abolished, we are happy. But there was a Budget line earlier—Rs. 5 million under President Ranil Wickremesinghe. Please check.

¶ 02 Another matter: A letter from the Planters’ Association of Ceylon to your Secretary Mr. Chandrakeerthi says they do not accept this Authority. Who are they to say that? It seems someone asked them to write, to undermine the Authority. This is a struggling community; the last to receive citizenship in 2003; late inclusion of schools in 1974. We are late starters; therefore performance is low. That is why the Authority, coordinating eight Ministries, is vital. Strengthen it.

¶ 03 Also, remember: TPA was only a coalition partner. Do not attribute all wrongs to us. The SJB is a progressive group that left the UNP; we are part of it. Do not brand all as thieves. When we question, do not get angry.

¶ 04 Do not confine Up-country development to wages. Beyond wages, give land rights and houses. Funds from India are available because we negotiated them. Implement them under your Government. Do not forget history; we achieved much across local bodies, secretariats, schools, Indian aid. Multiple Ministries are involved—yours, Hon. Wasantha Samarasinghe’s Labour, Finance. Your officials know our contributions.

¶ 05 Please think beyond wages: land rights for all residents in plantations, not only company workers. Your “Hatton Declaration” states this. Around 1 million live in plantation regions; only 150,000 are workers; all need land. They are Sri Lankans. Let us move forward.

¶ 06 Thank you.