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NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake
National People Party (NPP) led by leftist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) yesterday launched an eight-fold policy framework titled the ‘Hatton Declaration’ to improve the lives of the estate-based Malaiyaha Tamil community in Sri Lanka.
The event was held at the DKW Cultural Centre in Hatton and presided over by NPP leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake. The declaration was launched to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the community’s arrival in Sri Lanka from India.
Addressing the crowd, Dissanayake noted how the votes of those in the Malaiyaha Tamil community have been long misused by the country’s rulers.
“There are no votes in the Estates. What exists are vote banks with the keys firmly in the grips of those such as Thondaman and Thigambaram. The rulers merely need to speak to the owners of the keys in order to secure power in these areas,” he said.
In his comments on how the southern region has mobilised against the country’s leadership to remove them, Dissanayake pointed out that the rulers currently seem apprehensive of the people’s will and are making efforts to postpone elections and implement laws aimed at stifling dissent. He also added, “However, they remain confident in the loyalty of the Estates due to the owners of the voter banks,” he said.
The NPP leader highlighted that the youth who have left the estate sector have now broadened their horizons and are no longer constrained by these traditional loyalties.
He emphasised that the NPP is resolute in rectifying the injustices that have affected the community for 200 years, and he stressed that this isn’t just a distant aspiration but a concrete goal. He urged the community to play an active role in bringing about this change and put an end to the challenges they face. He called upon the community to actively work towards improving their lives.
