The Hon. Sundaralingam Pradeep - Deputy Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Speaker, in this debate under the Colombo Port City Economic Commission Act, I wish to raise key issues of the hill-country people. Brought from South India about 200 years ago, they have long been the backbone of our economy. Yet they have faced persistent injustices.

¶ 02 After estates owned by the British were vested in the State in 1975, they were leased to JEDB and SLSPC, and later to private Regional Plantation Companies. From then to now—over 30 years—the people have repeatedly asked for land ownership.

¶ 03 Most estate families still live in line rooms, often two or three families per room, lacking basic amenities and sanitation. When they seek permission to put up a small additional room or a latrine, estate managements refuse. They are not treated with dignity; only their labour is extracted.

¶ 04 Recently, at Neelagama Estate, Kahawatte, Ratnapura, when a worker, having been refused permission, built a small shelter on land already allocated, private security guards engaged by the estate management attacked the hut instead of proceeding through lawful channels. They even assaulted the mother and two sons there. This was widely reported on social media and in the news. Upon hearing, we instructed officials and initiated appropriate action. Such suppressions occur repeatedly in Badulla, Kandy, Matara, Kegalle, Nuwara Eliya and elsewhere whenever workers try to build a hut or a toilet.

¶ 05 Previously, political leaders would merely make appearances after such incidents. This time, within eight hours, nine suspects were arrested and produced before the Pelmadulla Magistrate by Kahawatte Police. I visited and met the affected families. The youth there demanded relief and land ownership. We met the Hon. Minister Saman Wijayaratne with plantation company representatives and Ministry officials; investigations have commenced.

¶ 06 Under our NPP Government, hill-country Tamils will be protected and their rights ensured. We firmly believe granting land ownership is the solution. We guarantee that such incidents will not recur. If the law had been applied equally in the past, these would not have happened. We will not permit any injustice to hill-country people. The Government will act firmly; the law will be enforced equally; no one will be allowed to take the law into their hands.

¶ 07 Finally, I convey, on behalf of Indian-origin people here, our congratulations to Joseph Vijay, leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, on his success in the Tamil Nadu Assembly Election. Thank you.