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Kandy Bishop writes to President: ‘Plantation line rooms breed abuse, child labour’

04 Aug 2021

  • Seeks upcountry estate sector reforms
  • Urges land rights, adequate living standards
By Pamodi Waravita Bishop of Kandy Vianney Fernando has written to President Gotabaya Rajapaksa proposing a number of reforms on behalf of the upcountry estate sector tea plantation communities, including land rights for workers, noting that “line rooms are breeding grounds for abuse”. This letter comes in the backdrop of the death of a 16-year-old girl hailing from the upcountry region, who was employed as a domestic worker at MP Rishad Bathiudeen’s house. Bishop Fernando had said that broad, long-term policies are needed to prevent many other children from the Kandy diocese, especially from the upcountry community, from being compelled to work as domestic workers. “Land rights and housing with an adequate standard of living will also contribute to lessen the incidence of the abuse of children in their own areas, and reduce the need for sending children away. The present shared and congested accommodation of many who are working in estates, especially line rooms, are breeding grounds for abuse and sending children away,” the letter stated. Furthermore, Bishop Fernando had asked that mechanisms be put in place to “closely monitor” the education of upcountry children and for the authorities to be proactive in ensuring that there are fewer school dropouts, and if there are, to in turn monitor their welfare and rights. “Ensure that the upcountry community has access to dignified employment opportunities with reasonable and stable incomes, including through minimum wages for estate workers, and other income generating activities,” the letter also proposed. Bishop Fernando has also stressed that the incident at Bathiudeen’s house should not be used to “gain political mileage or discredit any ethnic or religious community in particular”. Earlier this month, the Police said that investigations have revealed that a girl was brought to the house of Bathiudeen in October 2020 as a domestic worker, when she was 15 years and 11 months old. The girl, who had been admitted to the National Hospital of Sri Lanka (NHSL) in Colombo on 3 July with burn injuries, had died on 15 July while receiving treatment, the Borella Police said. Criminal investigations are underway regarding the matter, and it has been revealed that 11 children were employed at the said household over the years, brought there by a broker suspected to be 64-year-old Ponnaiyah Pandaram, alias Shankar, who has since been arrested and remanded in connection with the matter.

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