The Hon. Mano Ganesan

¶ 01 Hon. Deputy Chairperson of Committees, whenever Sri Lanka faces economic and social distress, India—our neighbour—assists us. Elections have concluded in four Indian states, including Tamil Nadu, the homeland of our Indian-origin Malaiyaha Tamil people who are Sri Lankan citizens. In that great democratic festival, the Tamil Nadu Victory Forum led by Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar has won. On behalf of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA), the principal party of the Indian-origin estate community in Sri Lanka, I extend our congratulations.

¶ 02 While we share this joy, we must also convey a grave concern of our people. On 22 April, at Neelagama Estate, Kahawatte in Ratnapura District, a brutal assault was carried out on estate workers by a private security force operating under Kahawatte Plantations. This force reportedly recruits former military or police personnel. I spoke by phone with the company’s CEO, Mr. Binesh Pananwala, who said they deployed this force to curb illegal gem mining. Even if curbing illicit activities—including liquor—is necessary, suspects must be handed over to the Police. The plantations are within Sri Lanka; the Malaiyaha people there are citizens protected by the Sri Lanka Police, which serves the entire country.

¶ 03 I have asked the Minister in charge of Police, Hon. Ananda Wijepala, to instruct estate administrators to treat estate residents as Sri Lankan citizens. Due to this assault, our youth were injured and hospitalized. Following my intervention, some attackers were arrested and later released on bail. A similar incident occurred in Matara, which I also raised with the Minister; significant action has not been evident.

¶ 04 If such assaults on our estate communities continue, we will be compelled to resort to self-defense, which could create unnecessary tensions. The Government bears responsibility to prevent this. Youth in Neelagama have handed me the “Neelagama Declaration,” which I submit for the record in Hansard.

¶ 05 On behalf of the TPA, we present two proposals: 1. Prohibit plantation companies from forming paramilitary-style private forces, including with ex-military or ex-police personnel. Plantation areas are part of Sri Lanka and their residents are citizens. Companies only hold lease rights; they cannot supplant public law. Only the Sri Lanka Police should enforce law and order in plantations. 2. Authorize temporary settlements on uncultivated plantation land for homeless families and families who lost homes (including due to storms). The governing party’s NPP Hatton Declaration—under “Land and Housing”—states: “The main problem faced by the Malaiyaga Tamil people is the housing problem… Attempts are made to evict some workers from their homes when they leave plantation work… Uncultivated areas and abandoned land in the plantation areas will be used to improve the livelihood of the unemployed youth...”. You promised to distribute fallow lands to Malaiyaha people. Do not forget this commitment.

¶ 06 Hon. Samantha Vidyaratna has reportedly called for distributing RPC lands to village residents. That is fine—but first honor your pledge to the estate-dwelling Malaiyaha people, then address others. Land is our people’s first, second, and third priority. If you grant land to others while denying it to our community, the TPA, together with other parties and our people, will mobilize a major struggle. Please do not push us to that.

¶ 07 Stop these assaults. There was an incident in Matara where dogs were set on Malaiyaha youth; I raised that here. If such acts continue, we will not and cannot remain silent; self-defense measures could lead to grave consequences. Do not allow matters to reach that point.

¶ 08 Hon. President Anura Kumara Dissanayake is my friend; Hon. Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya is my friend. I say to them and to Minister Ananda Wijepala: you have an obligation to recognize Malaiyaha people as Sri Lankan citizens, and—without delay—to deliver land, housing, roads, livelihoods, and to implement what you pledged in the Hatton Declaration. You are the governing party with a mandate for five years; about 3½ years remain. Use that time to resolve these issues. If you do not, we as the Opposition will be compelled to act. Thank you.