Marking the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the hill-country Tamil community
of Indian origin in Sri Lanka in 1823, a procession is scheduled to be held from
Mannar to Matale from 15-26 March, as this was the route through which the
British colonists sent these people to their relevant destinations.
Speaking to The Morning, Organisation to Protect the Dignity of the Upcountry
Community Advisor priest of Christian faith M. Sakthivel said yesterday (5) that
the upcountry people were made to walk from Mannar to Matale upon their
arrival from India in 1823 to be deployed to coffee estates. From Matale, they
were sent to their relevant destinations, which were jungles where they had to
create their own settlements.
“They were not provided with any transport. People had to walk to any place that
they were directed to by the British. They arrived in a boat from India and reached
Mannar. This was a three-month journey,” he added.
Sakthivel noted that a commemoration will be held on 29 January in
remembrance of those who died in protests, urging for their right to salary
increments and other issues such as those who died in the Galaha estate in the
Kandy District while protesting for a salary increment on 15 September 1940.
“It was also reported that around 70,000 of them died from 1823-1841, during
their travel to various destinations within the country, while creating their own
settlements and due to health issues. Between 1841-1849, another 90,000 people
died. Some areas did not have roads and these people who arrived from India had
to walk through forests. In 1867, the British initiated tea cultivation, since coffee
cultivation was a failure”.
Sakthivel further said: “These commemoration events will make the entire
country understand the difficulties and challenges faced by the upcountry
community since their arrival from India.”
Meanwhile, the Tamil Progressive Alliance will hold a commemoration event in
February this year commemorating the upcountry community in which President
Ranil Wickremesinghe and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa are expected to
participate.