Image: Daily Mirror.
The National Peace Council (NPC) has called on the Government to appoint a Land Commission to resolve the long-standing landlessness of Malaiyaha Tamil plantation workers, highlighting that the issue has once again come to the fore in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah.
Structural Inequality Exposed
The NPC noted that while the Government under President Anura Kumara Dissanayake recognised structural inequalities in the plantation sector by granting an unprecedented daily subsidy to Malaiyaha workers in the 2026 Budget, the cyclone has exposed another systemic barrier—lack of land ownership.
Most plantation workers do not own the land or houses they occupy, which are managed by the State and plantation companies due to historical arrangements. This has excluded them from accessing disaster relief offered to other citizens, including grants of Rs. 25,000 for cleaning damaged homes and up to Rs. 5 million for rebuilding destroyed houses, as eligibility is tied to property ownership.
Land Availability Not the Issue
At a recent discussion hosted by the Centre for Policy Alternatives, experts pointed out that adequate land exists within plantation areas for housing. Large tracts of land have already been repurposed for tourism, renewable energy, and livestock farming, while official assessments presented to Parliament confirm that tens of thousands of acres remain underutilised or unproductive. This indicates that policy decisions—not land scarcity—are the real constraint.
Call for Justice
The NPC stressed that vesting land ownership rights with Malaiyaha Tamil plantation workers during resettlement is essential for a fair and inclusive recovery process.
“Equal treatment in unequal circumstances produces unjust outcomes. The Government’s commitment to equality and non-discrimination must translate into targeted action,” the NPC said, recalling the community’s historic marginalisation since Independence when they were denied citizenship rights.
Next Steps
The NPC urged the Government to establish a Land Commission immediately to facilitate land allocation and ensure that post-cyclone rebuilding aligns with principles of justice and equity.