Malayagam, 200 years of denied rights for the plantation people
In February 1823 the British rulers moved thousands of workers from South India to Sri Lanka as cheap labour. The complaint of 'Voice of Plantation People': 'Two centuries later in the districts of Galle and Matara their condition has not changed: they still live without land rights or a home of their own'.
Colombo (Asia News) - The year 2023 marks 200 years since the plantation people or 'malayagam' began making a major contribution to Sri Lanka's economy. Yet they are still deprived of basic rights and face many social, economic, cultural and political problems. This is the complaint of the Voice of Plantation People organisation, which handed over a petition to the President of Sri Lanka on the occasion of this bicentenary.
At a press conference in Colombo, association head Anthony Jesudasan recalled how historical records show that these Tamils, who have been contributing significantly to Sri Lanka's economic development for 200 years, were brought to the island from South India by the British colonial governments in February 1823 to work as cheap labour in the plantation industry: "It is arguable that these Tamil workers, who have lived for 200 years and have been given their shoulders to the economy of this country, contributed to the national income of the country have been entitled to the rights enjoyed by other citizens living in the same country. And that they have to be called a group of people who are living the most oppressive lives socially, politically, culturally, and economically in this country."
The problem particularly affects the Malayagam who live in the southern districts of Galle and Matara. "After the disaster of 2003,' adds Anton Vanathaiah, secretary of Voice of Plantation People, 'the victims were allocated a plot of land, but despite the fact that almost twenty years have passed, they have not even been given a piece of paper attesting to their right to that land. There is no document even in the relevant government offices'.
"There are five Tamil schools in Matara district, but they are located in very difficult areas: the parents cannot afford the expenses to reach them. Therefore, they have to be sent to the nearest Sinhala school and have to study Buddhism instead of Hinduism. There is a shortage of teachers for subjects such as mathematics and English, so the higher education of the Tamil plantation children has been severely compromised so far'.
Meanwhile, the authorities in New Delhi are pressing for the implementation of measures in favour of the plantation workers, mostly Tamils of Indian origin. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe convened a new all-party meeting as part of the negotiations launched last month with the Tamil National Alliance. The head of state had expressed the ambitious goal of reaching an understanding by 4 February, the 75th anniversary of Sri Lanka's independence.
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24/01/2007
01/10/2021 15:16
