The Hon. Jeevan Thondaman

¶ 01 Hon. Presiding Member, before I begin, on behalf of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress and the upcountry people, I extend our deepest condolences to the family of the late senior journalist Mr. D. P. S. Jeyaraj.

¶ 02 Recently, when thuggery occurred in the estates, we raised it across the aisle; Ministers promised solutions. Last week Hon. Mano Ganesan and I requested a meeting bringing together plantation companies, police, and MPs. We heard it was postponed; the Ministry Secretary Mr. Prabath Chandrakeerthi has now said, after speaking to Hon. Minister Ananda Wijeyapala, that it will be held tomorrow. The government must keep its promise; it is an important discussion with all stakeholders and media present.

¶ 03 Across Udupussellawa, Kahawatte, Maskeliya—thuggery and lawlessness by some estate management have increased. This is not a government or opposition issue or a chance for political gain. When problems occurred at the “Pedro” Tea Factory, I demanded answers; for that, the President labelled me a thug. A case was filed against me and continues. I say I merely demanded answers—in the only language some managers understand.

¶ 04 Many here, on both sides, are not connected to the estates and do not know the ground reality. Consider the housing issue. Two and a half years ago we launched a 10,000-house programme and commenced 1,300 houses. The current government promised 9,000 houses in two years. To date, 2,080 houses are identified but lands are not released. This is not the fault of the government or the Minister; the main reason is the trusts controlling estate lands.

¶ 05 In the North and East, Indian-aided houses can be given directly, as lands are private. In the upcountry, any housing requires a request to the trust, then through the Ministry to the company, then to the manager, then to the Finance Ministry, and finally approval—by then, the project lapses. As Minister, on 30 October 2023 I submitted a Cabinet Paper to allocate Rs. 5,000 million to grant 10 perches each to upcountry families. The President then asked whether there was sufficient land. The total plantation area is 204,000 hectares; to give 10 perches each, only about 5,777 hectares are needed—feasible. We submitted another paper because stakeholders differed on “ownership.” Upcountry people are Sri Lankan citizens; the Government must take responsibility.

¶ 06 Managers impose heavy conditions when routed through companies. Hence we requested that human-habitable areas in plantations be taken over by the Government, so line ministries—Education, Health, etc.—can deliver services directly, without relying on a separate Plantation Infrastructure Ministry and trusts. Rs. 3 billion annually is insufficient—allocation must increase.

¶ 07 Recently, some associated with Hon. Bimal Rathnayake’s party allegedly intimidated journalists, barring them from estates, claiming they are my “hirelings.” The same journalists have both praised and criticized me; but if media cannot access estates, how will issues surface? I state openly: Anura Kumara Dissanayake became President because of the Aragalaya. But in the upcountry, some have created hatred against me, portraying that we did nothing. As Minister, I introduced a free breakfast for 26,000 children—was that wrong? Saumiyamoorthy Thondaman secured citizenship, established the Sri Pada National College of Education, and brought 864 schools under the Government. We always wanted to be Sri Lankans, not second-class citizens. Arumugam Thondaman ensured many appointments including teachers. When we say this, they call it family politics. Should I then not speak of issues?

¶ 08 Hon. Presiding Member, please allow me one more minute. I am the only Minister from the last government who won and returned here—my people still trust me. I must honour that trust. We gave two years. Minister, implement programmes correctly. The reality is that plans do not reach the upcountry. On wages—you promised Rs. 2,000 before elections. If I had given it, you would say I bought boxes. We did not politicize wages; we supported a solution and ensured the government did not fall on budgets or councils.

¶ 09 We prepared the Upcountry Charter in 2023 with civil society—a short-, mid-, and long-term plan on development, education, and healthcare. Please implement it. Wage hikes address only about 10 per cent in formal work; 90 per cent are informal and have no land rights.

¶ 10 Finally, regarding healthcare: in Bogawantalawa Hospital there is a severe shortage of doctors; in Maskeliya Hospital there is no scanner for pregnant mothers, forcing them to travel on poor roads to Glencairn private hospitals. Please look into this urgently. Thank you.