Lights and shadows mark Tamil integration in Sri Lanka
As part of Naam 200 commemoration marking the bicentennial of the arrival of Tamils in the hilly region of central Sri Lanka, President Wickremesinghe announced a plan to build 10,000 homes for Tamils. The latter, however, want the government to recognise their title to land.
Colombo (AsiaNews) – President Ranil Wickremesinghe spoke at Naam 200, the celebration marking the bicentennial of the arrival of Tamil-speaking people from India to work in the country’s central highlands.
In his address, the head of state stressed the goal of moving the country forward by working on national cohesion, starting with the government's commitment to fully integrate the Tamils living in Sri Lanka’s Hill Country (Malayagam).
As part of this, President Wickremesinghe is promoting a plan to build 10,000 homes. Together with Indian Minister of Finance, Nirmala Sitharaman, he laid the foundation stone of the project, which is financially backed by India and centred in Mount Vernon Estate, Dimbula, and Kotagala.
Mr Wickremasinghe also thanked the Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, for contributing to Sri Lanka's financial stability, grateful for the support provided to ensure the success of the Naam event.
The president added that this celebration marks the beginning of a new journey for Hill Country Tamils, noting that the government is committed to providing them with title deeds to land and guaranteeing their right to an education.
Sri Lankan Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, who also spoke at the event, acknowledged the significant contribution made by Tamil people to Sri Lanka’s development over the past 200 years, particularly in promoting Ceylon tea.
He also pointed out that this is the first time that a comprehensive programme has been launched to fully integrate this community into Sri Lankan society.
Naam 200 was also attended by several religious leaders, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, as well as various government officials, foreign diplomats and thousands of Tamils.
Along with the celebrations, another Tamil group produced a report aimed at getting land title in the wake of the landslides of 1993, 2003, 2004 and 2017.
Voice of the Plantation People Organization (VOPP) released its "Report of Investigation on Malayagam People's Land Ownership in the Southern Province," with seven recommendations for the government.
They include the creation of a special task force for plantation land disputes to update data, including the number of individuals who have received plots of land, those with land and housing, and those who have been granted title deeds to land. Another recommendation calls for systematically demarcating designated land and providing each family with a survey plan for their respective allocated plots.
The VOPP also wants the government to issue title deeds to confirm and protect the rightful ownership of the land in the affected communities, as well as the transfer of administrative control of the allocated land from the plantation estate management to the rightful owners.
"There's no point in owning land if we don't have the right to it. If there is a right to the land, then we can mortgage it and get money for any of our needs or emergencies. But we don't even have that opportunity today,” said Jandran Dilan, a Tamil plantation worker.
“Some people have built a house on land spending every penny they earn,” he explained. “The government should look into the issue and provide solutions as soon as possible, not just words and promises.”
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23/09/2020 15:59
05/09/2017 18:34
