A pledge from the Governor to Southern Plantation Community

Southern Province Governor Laxman Yapa Abeywardena said that he is ready to provide solutions to the many crises that Plantation workers (Malaiyagam people) living in Matara and Galle districts of the Southern Province have been facing for many years within his provincial governorship and that all necessary steps will be taken within a month. Last night the gazette notification was issued for the educational advancement of Malaiyaha school children.

“In this organization’s program, there is a part of the work that I can do as the governor of the southern province. I am ready for that. I will start from the field of education. Teachers are recruited to the estate, only from the estate. I will gazette this next week. We will start our work to give you solutions within a month” Southern Province Governor Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said addressing Malaiyaha People.

The governor stated this while addressing the Malaiyaha community as the main guest of the discussion between government officials and civil organizations about the current situation of the Malaiyaha people in the Southern Province, which was held by the Voice of the Plantation People Organization (VOPP) on June 12 at the Caritas SED GALLE auditorium in Galle.

In 1994, during a two-month political visit to 17 countries in the world, the Governor stated that he had the opportunity to do a deep study on various struggles and crises. In some countries, crises have arisen because of the gap in basic human rights, the lack of harmony between religions, or the lack of national harmony, the governor pointed out.

“We saw in countries like Sweden that the main reason why there are no problems in those countries is that every citizen and every person can enjoy equal rights in every aspect. So in our country, a Tamil person, a Muslim person, a Christian person should have the freedom to believe in the religion of their choice and live. This is the best way for a citizen of a country to live in a good society,” said Governor Lakshman Yapa.

“Therefore, I work from the position that every citizen living in our country should have the background to live and enjoy equal rights according to their own identity,”  said the Governor.

“For many years, the deficiencies in the plantation have been completed very little. The main reason for that is that the people and organizations who stand for it only appear for a certain period, their needs are not fulfilled due to the election promises given by various political parties only during the elections, working only for a short period without commitment, etc.” said the Governor.

The governor who stated that here before he had not seen any follow-up or conclusion of the work done with the dedication to the plantation community,  said that he has identified the Voice of the Plantation People Organization as an organization that seeks answers to these questions for the sake of reconciliation.

Accordingly, the governor said that In this organization’s program, there is a part of the work that he can do as the governor of the southern province.

“I am ready for that. I will start from the field of education. Teachers are recruited to the estate, only from the estate. I will gazette this next week. We will start our work to give you solutions within a month” said the governor.

“To what extent have the people of the plantations received their economic and social rights? , how much of their sanitary health facilities have been received? , how many educational facilities have been received? , to what extent has the infrastructure been developed?, and to what extent has justice been achieved in external social issues? I have identified,” he said.

Also, he stated that through the document presented today by the Voice of Plantation People Organization, is also demanding land and housing rights, children’s education and vocational training facilities, and women’s development, the governor promised to initiate steps to answer all these questions within a month.

Further, he invited the VOPP to discuss how to do the tasks that need to be done for the people of the Southern Province, Malaiyaha and emphasized that he will provide the support he can as the Governor of the Southern Province to work for the creation of unity, democracy and harmony in the country by defeating religiosity, extremism and racism.

The people of Galle and Matara districts associated with VOPP, young people, Civil Society Organization leaders, and Buddhist priests participated in this program as guests along with Venerable Kehelulle Sumedha Thero, Chief incumbent of Ambalanwatta Vivekarama, the Director of Caritas SED Galle and the Diocesean Vicar general of Galle and Father Michael Rajendram,  Sister Deepa Fernando the  Head of the Justice and Peace Desk of Caritas Sri Lanka, Father Anthony Jesudasan, Director of CODICEF Institute, and Southern Province District Secretaries, Assistant Secretaries, Legal Officers participated.

The district leaders and youth leaders made a comprehensive presentation on all the issues they are facing through a live forum, in the presence of the Southern Governor.

END.