Plantation sector trade unions representing the Malaiyaha community (an ethnic group descending from Indian workers brought to Sri Lanka during the colonial era) urged the political authority to provide solutions to the land-related issues faced by the community, at least with the Election of a new Government in the foreseeable future.

The Voice of the Plantation People (VOPP) organisation, during a press briefing held yesterday (30) in Colombo, pointed out that land and quality of life-related issues faced by the Malaiyaha community living in the Galle and Matara Districts (Southern Province) and in the Kalutara District (Western Province) have persisted for decades. 

VOPP Executive Director Anthony Jesudasan explained that since no one from this community has been Elected to the Parliament, their concerns are not discussed in the Parliament, and that although one Parliamentarian from the Southern part of the country has raised these concerns from time to time, those concerns were not presented in the Parliament in a proper manner and that no sustainable solution has been presented to address these issues. 

He said that even though some from this community have received land, this land’s legal ownership is with their employer who also owns the estate in which the land is located. 

“Although plots of land with an extent of seven perches were given to this community between 1993 and 2000 under various projects, over 90% of these people have not received any document that enables them to claim ownership for the land that they received. This land is still owned by the management of the estate (that they are working in). They have been rendered unable to do anything in their land freely due to the influence of the estate management,” he said.

In areas such as the Matara District, he added, there is no proper information or plan as to how land that was given in this manner has been demarcated, which has led to issues. He further said that despite discussions with high-ranking public officials in the said districts, adequate attention has not been paid and solutions are yet to be provided.

The Malaiyaha community seeks permanent ownership of the land that has been given to them.