Hon. Amirthanathan Adaikkalanathan

¶ 01 Thank you, Hon. Presiding Member. I thank Hon. Radhakrishnan for this Adjournment Motion. I like the term “Malaiyagam Tamils”—they live in hilly regions, hence “hill country people.” We, as a national party, recognize them and will voice their rights on all fronts. We will use our authority and raise our voice for them, and support their struggles.

¶ 02 Since I entered Parliament, I have spoken on their land issues, general issues, and line room life. Visiting them, I feel deep sorrow to see a community living in such conditions. Many from Malaiyagam live today as protectors—home guards—in our northern and eastern border villages. They too face land issues in places like Vavuniya and Kilinochchi; many live in guard posts in others’ houses. Without them, some of our areas would have come under a Sinhala-majority administration. The Hon. Minister Chandrasekar spoke from experience.

¶ 03 This people-friendly Government must pay special attention to all their issues. The ‘line room’ life is unacceptable: four families in one line block—how can youth start families? Everyone has worked to change this; the Government must focus here, and we will support you. On land, ending line rooms, and lifting people from poverty—we will support good measures.

¶ 04 Tea did not grow from fertilizer alone; it grew from the bodies of these workers. They were brought as labourers, and now hold up the economy. We cannot watch while their basic rights and needs are denied. Let us all join hands to uplift this national community so they may live as free persons. Thank you.