The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) Leader Mano Ganesan said that the Estate Managers’ Association of Sri Lanka has condemned the attack on estate officials and have warned that they would refrain from estate administration. He said that their concern and condemnation are justified and the TPA does not condone such attacks.
He, however, said that the reason for the attack on the estate officials is the frustration of the workers. “Their livelihood avenues have all collapsed like never before in history. But without fixing these and revamping the crumbling plantation sector, the blame should not be placed only on these frustrated workers,” the TPA leader added.
MP Ganesan, however, questioned why the Government’s attention has yet not been focused on the problems of declining incomes of workers and plantation companies, the frustration of workers and the decline of the plantation industry.
“Why has not the Ceylon Workers Congress, the Government’s plantation partners, understood the gravity of the situation? I am astonished by this silence. I don’t understand if this silence is a deceitful ploy to hide the Government’s inability to rectify this situation,” MP Mano Ganesan said.
The MP said that this situation has arisen due to the worst decline in the livelihoods of plantation workers in recent history.
“All the activities we initiated, including the construction of houses on estates, have come to a standstill. They are conducting opening ceremonies to the housing constructions we commenced. The living conditions of the families of the estate workers are at a deplorable condition like never before. The main reason for this is the collapse of the plantation industry,” the MP said.
He said that the promised wages are not paid to the estate workers as the management companies claim they do not have enough income. “Then what is the solution? The wage issue has been entrusted to the judiciary and all are asleep,” he added.
MP Ganesan said that the income of the people living on estates should be increased. He suggested that estate workers should be given the right to engage in alternative employment. “Opportunities should be provided for animal husbandry and vegetable farming. The Government should provide assistance for these,” he said.