Where is the right to land for Estate workers in hill country?

Voice of People
“We have been living in the hill country for 180 years though, we are unable to gain the land right”

“land right is a dream for us”
“No freedom in the estate, because we have to get permission for everything from the management”
“Are we not human beings? Why do they discriminate us?”



These comments have been raised out by the estate worker’s leaders who took part at the workshop which was organized by Praja Abhilasha Network via APEDCO on 08th May, 2011 at CWF Hall in Hatton.


Further we discussed regarding the current issues of the estate workers, they have listed out the issues such as: No Housing and land rights, Lack of welfare services, Lack of education, No-drinking water, No proper transportation, No-security, language barriers, injustice, No fare wages, and etc..
Meanwhile, the people have identified the root causes. Trade unions leaders separate the people and cheat them, misleading, no co-operation among the people, No Unity among the people, estate sector is not in the state administration in Sri Lanka. Not included in the flow of the development activities, Companies focus the income generating without considering the people’s needs.
So the people have come for a common decision that they think that if they have a right to land and housing, they don’t need to depend on the estate management. Therefore participants discussed regarding the solutions for gaining the rights. So the participants decided to make aware the estate people regarding these issues.

There were 80 leaders participated in the workshop, and facilitated by Mr.Herman Kumara(Convener of NAFSO),Francis Raajan (Local Coordinator of Praja Abhilasha),Anthony Jesudasan(Coordinator of People Dialogue Network),Dr.Ravi Varma, Priyankara