• Not an issue of the economy or income, but of self-respect and ethnic identity 

Justice for marginalised people involves combating systemic exclusion through legal protection, increased access to resources like legal aid, and community-based initiatives that address unique challenges like discrimination and inequality. 

The wage hike for the Malayagam plantation workers through next year’s (2026) Budget is considered to be the first such time in the country’s history. In addition to the Rs.1,350 already paid, it was announced the plantation companies would pay Rs.200 and the Government would support with another Rs.200. As far as the Malayagam people were concerned, it’s the largest wage hike to be given in one installment, which made them happy, though they were initially not very interested in the debates in this regard.  However, the move of the Opposition in Parliament led the people to pay greater attention to the issue. Opposition Members including the SJB, the SLMC and the SLPP, commented on this issue, arguing that it’s a great injustice to the public and tax payers as the money of the public and the taxpayers are being paid as wages to the plantation workers through private companies, triggering the anger of the workers. But, more than all this, prominent SJB Member from the Matale District, Rohini Kumari Wijerathna went to the extent of making a complaint to the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) and the Auditor General’s (AG) Department, which made the Malayagam workers furious. We are not aware whether there are legal or procedural issues concerning this matter. But, of course, we can presume the Government would have received the relevant advice and legal guidance when it took its decision. However, when the Opposition members spoke about this issue, they all categorically claimed that it was illegal to use public money or taxpayers’ money for the wage hike of plantation workers and that it was an injustice to the public and the taxpayers. The basis of their argument was the plantation people are not the general public and nor are they taxpayers. This argument really brought out the ugly face of the communal demon hidden within them, which came out unconsciously. If they were gentleman politicians, they should have advised the Government, saying “we have no objection to the wage hike for plantation workers but make sure that it has no legal or procedural implications”. 

On the other hand, the actions of Wijerathna, of making a complaint to the CIABOC and the AG’s Department, was on the basis that the Malayagam  plantation workers are not full citizens of the country nor are they taxpayers. 

The SJB and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa did not utter a word on the most vital issue within or outside Parliament, correcting the views and comments made by his Members or their actions.  But, the unexpected widespread protest by the workers shook the Opposition. They realised that by their words and actions, they had totally shut out all their chances of going to the Malayagam people for votes in the future. Shaken by the outburst of the workers, Premadasa first spoke outside Parliament and then in Parliament and said that he and his Party are not against giving a wage increase to the plantation people  but were only talking about the  procedural and legal impediments of this process. But, his belated statement did not make any impact among the people. At the same time, the Malayagam people also noted the aggressive manner in which Premadasa and his Party members reacted to a non-existent rights issue at the Trincomalee temple crisis, undoubtedly confirming their racist and communal standards. Needless to say, the SLPP has also totally shattered their political future with the Malayagam people. 

The precarious position of the Malayagam Opposition politicians

The most interesting turn of events is the embarrassing position the Malayagam traditional opposition parties had to face in this episode. They did not respond directly to the comments made by the members of the majority community from their own allied party and nor did they oppose the stand that they took in this vital issue concerning their own people. They only said that they are supporting the move of the Government and are voting for the Budget. The reality was they had no other option but were forced to vote in favour of the Budget.

But, their actions and speeches have not revealed any sincerity or concern for their own people.

They did not have the guts or courage to say that “we as Malayagam people are the general public and are taxpayers of this country like any other citizens. 

“Therefore, we have the right to receive assistance and wages from the so called public and taxpayers’ money.”

The Malayagam  people, especially female workers, came out publicly and  emphatically said: “We are citizens, the general public and taxpayers and  no one has the right to oppose our  right.” They clearly emphasised the crux of the issue is not merely a matter of economy or income but a matter of self-respect, and the ethnic Identity of the Malayagam community. When this issue became the burning talking point among the people, the Malayagam opposition politicians held a media conference but spoke very lethargically and said the concerned MPs who made these controversial statements called them and expressed their apology. But, against the backdrop of the serious insinuations made against them  by Opposition Members, the Malayagam people expected their Parliament  representatives to aggressively oppose the position of the Opposition Members refusing to accept them as part of the general public or as taxpayers. And therefore, the stand of the Opposition Members cannot be accepted and their right to get wage hike through the Budget is legitimate and cannot be opposed by anyone. They are taxpayers like all other citizens and in addition, they pay their taxes through the plantation companies. The people could not see their MPs genuinely standing with them and defending them  but were  only trying to  passively neutralise the situation. Their ingenuity is already making people drift away from them and look for new  political avenues. 

Many social media personalities welcomed the struggles of the Malayagam people and expressed their opinions in favour of the Malayagam people and also angrily reacted to the stand of the Opposition parties and the plantation Companies. A journalist, quoted a female plantation worker as saying that, “we toiled for this country for more than two centuries, and still suffer without a decent living wage, proper working and living conditions and are being treated as second class citizens and are made to suffer in this case where the Opposition parties are even opposing a meagre increment that we are getting.” The journalist   reacted angrily saying: “how long can we make these people suffer”, and posed a question to the plantation companies, “you export the best quality tea produced by these poor people, earning billions of US Dollars, but from the time of the colonial period to date, you give them the so-called ‘labour dust’ tea. You have no heart to give them just one packet of quality tea at least once a year. Don’t be inhuman and heartless exploiters. Don’t you’ll have a conscience? Are you’ll human?” He also did not forget to charge the traditional Malayagam opposition parties saying, “You can no longer cheat and fool your people, they have already thrown you into the political dustbin.”

The wage increase also has another dimension

The ‘good governance’ Government announced a Rs. 50 increment through their Budget, but, this remained a talking point among the workers for more than two years, but it never materialised.

Former President Ranil Wickremesinghe announced a wage hike up to Rs. 1,750 during his last year’s (2024) Presidential campaign in Kotagala and even went to the extent to gazette the decision. His followers and the aligned party members thundered the entire Kotagala Town with crackers and the Town burst into applause and cheer. After that, everything was manipulated in such a way to instigate some plantation companies to go to court and get the gazette notification nullified. People got cheated. The truth is that Wickremesinghe did not know how to deal with the plantation companies or he very well knew how to deceive and hoodwink the people. But, we have to assume that President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and his Government has dealt with the plantation companies in the right way. The Government, by increasing wages through the Budget and having made a budgetary allocation, has compelled the companies to follow suit.  We are not sure whether there is any provision to challenge a Budget proposal in Court, but, in case that it could be, it would not be surprising if the Opposition parties instigate someone to go to court to negate the process. 

Abhijit Naskar says in Iftar-e Insaniyat: “It’s not a free country, it’s a free jungle, where predators roam free abusing the marginalised.”

The whole episode has made some facts clear

Firstly, for the first time in history, a provision has been made through the national Budget for the wage hike for Malayagam plantation workers.

Secondly, a wage hike has been guaranteed to workers on the basis of fair attendance, even if they don’t go to work for 25 days.

Thirdly, the Opposition parties opposed this proposal, saying that this is public money and taxpayers money and that such should not be paid to a private company, and argued the Malayagam plantation people are not considered as the general public and nor as taxpayers. But, the Government has taken a firm stand that the Malayagam people are the citizens of the country and should be considered as the general public and also pay taxes on behalf of the people, and that hence, the plantation people should be considered as taxpayers. This action of the Government is a clear indication that the Malayagam people are citizens of this country and are eligible to enjoy rights on par with other citizens. And therefore, for the first time, it is re-confirmed that the Malayagam people have all the privileges and rights that all other communities enjoy.

Fourthly, the Government’s efforts, and the actions of the Opposition parties have created a wide awareness not only within this country but also internationally about the issues of the plantation people and the need to provide justice to them. It has also made it clear that the Malayagam Opposition politicians have no political future unless they completely change their attitude and approaches towards the Malayagam people.

Finally, the Malayagam people have clearly demonstrated that the issue of a wage hike through the Budget is not merely an economic or income issue, but an issue about their self-respect and ethnic identity.

Dr. Martin Luther King said: “A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true.” 

The writer is the Executive Director of the Plantation Rural Education Development Organisation

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The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and do not necessarily reflect those of this publication