Commemorating the First arrival of Indian Origin Tamils 252 Kilometer Walk begins
To commemorate the first arrival of Indian Origin Tamils to Sri Lanka 200 years ago, a 252-kilometer walk began this morning from Thalaimannar to Matale. Through this march, the first immigrants who were brought to Sri Lanka from India to work in Sri Lanka’s plantations are expected to reflect on the difficult journey they took from Thalaimannar through the jungles to the coffee lands, show solidarity and thereby make the society aware of the crises still that the current plantation people are facing.
The march for the “lives and rights” of the Malayah community from Thalaimannar to Matale started this morning, the 29th of July, near the Thalaimannar St. Lawrence Church to the Our Lady of Victory Church at Pesalai based on the theme of “Finding their Roots and winning Rights”.
Manbumgu Malayaham Committee member Anthony Jesudasan said that the first day of the long march covering a distance of 252 kilometers was completed at the Church of Our Lady of Victory in Pesale and a religious service and discussion was held at the Murugan Temple in Pesale this evening.
A large group of Christian, Buddhist, Muslim, and Hindu religious leaders, representatives of Civil Society Organizations, and young people are participating in this 15-day journey organized to march to Matale for the rights of the mountain people.
Plantation workers from Matara – Deniyaya, Matale, Hatton, and Nuwara-Eliya plantations especially participated in this walk.
The year 2023 marks the 200th anniversary of Tamils from India being brought to Sri Lanka to work on plantations. Since then, the community has contributed immensely to the country at every level of society, especially in the economy. But the organizers say that their survival in Sri Lanka is a continuous struggle.
Under the banner of ‘Maanbumigu Malaiyaha Makkal – Malaiyaha People with Dignity,’ and aligned with the overarching theme of #Malaiyaham200, participants who will join the walk seek to foster reflection, connection, and dialogue with other communities about the shared history, struggles, and aspirations of the IOT Community.
The organizers also said that yesterday at the St. Lawrence Church in Thalaimannar, starting the opening ceremony of the march, they remembered the early immigrants, offered flowers and held a religious service, performed meaningful dances and songs, and shared scholarly ideas.
Apart from that, the organizers said that the Malayaham people should be recognized for their contribution to the country’s economy, recognized as a national population, given common rights including land rights, and made to contribute to the administration.
This entire event was organized by the Collective for Maanbumigu Malaiyaham. This Collective Comprising of the National Christian Council and Civil Society Organizations and Individuals working with Malaiyaha community.
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