Plantation community demand decent life, Land & Livelihood

Plantation community in the mid hill country are one of the most marginalized community in the country. Not a single perch ownership for them though they have been living in the same line room and the same state for generations.
Most of them do not have even a home for their decent living.
They have organized a protest today at Hatton demanding land, housing, respect, dignity and decent life. They are not happy with the new government proposal for Haritha Boomi land ownership with 7 perches land. Their demand is 20 perches land for their housing, home gardening, livestock development hence ensure food for the family. At tge same time there could be reforestration in their 20 perches land may be in the margin of the land which provide sustenance of water catchments and reataining water in the soil preventing soil erosion and tendency of land slides.
However, the plantation sector politicians are already agreed to 7perches land proposd by the government.
By Herman Kumara

Plantation Land rights meeting was held in Suva Piyasa in kandy

Plantation Land rights meeting was held in Suva Piyasa in kandy on 07th Feb 2015. more than 70 representatives from plantation community , civil organization leaders, Trade Union leaders and NGOs have taken part in the meeting. During the meeting all of the representatives agreed unanimously 20 perches land is compulsory  for each families in order to live a better live standard. and demand  for that in the future.

Hand bill on Plantation Land rights

Estate people protest for their land rights at Badulla in Sri Lanka

A demonstration was conducted by PA,NAFSO together with the civil societies, NGOs collectively on Meeriyabedda landslide issue and the ignorance  at the Badulla Town, in Sri Lanka .  200 people took part in the demonstration. Here protesters demands estate workers land rights. the major demands are: 1)Provide 10 perch land for housing 02) provide 10 perch land for home gardening 03) provide 1 acre land for agriculture 04) Estate workers should be brought to the local government structure 05) Demolish the ruling system which brought by British  in the plantation sector (at this moment the plantation communities are under the  Plantation management system) 06) plantation people land rights should be ensured.07) provide adequate house (private house)

These are the main demands put forward by the people.  people specially shouted that " we don't want up stair barracks as it is earlier.

karadiyan Aru village in batticaloa

this area people are suffering by severe constraints such as: lack of water , transportation,lack of Independence life,and unable to go out after 06.00pm due to the security reason of the governments etc.In this village, widows and disabled persons remain high due to severe constraints, many people have been disappeared, abducted and killed by unknown persons. many people have been living in the village for three decades but they don't have a land title for their land. this village people are farmers but thay don't have enough drinking water. there is only Tube well existing for their daily usage of drinking water.but this village people pay Tex for their agricultural land and residences. several times , villagers requested and put forward their needs the D.S. always says, "I will arrange" but till now , villagers don't have a enough water or even a deed/ title for their land.

Forced Eviction of Slave Island

The fundamental rights petition , A.A. Rahuman Beebee and 30 others vs the government of Sri lanka ,was filed in the Supreme Court of Sri Lanka on the 18th of July 2008 and the petition was taken up on 18th July ,2008 itself. This case centres on the threatened forced eviction of informal settlers from Glennie passage , station passage ,at No.50 Garden and stuart street in Slave Island , Colombo-02.Sri lanka. The petitioners, some of informal settlers stated that they had been living in these houses since the 1960s paying all relevant taxes and their children were attending the near by schools. They alleged that the respondents had acted in violation of natural justice without proper hearing. The petitioners argued that their fundamental rights to equality to equal protection of the law, as is guaranteed and recognized under the constitution’s Article 12(1) were violated.

Land Grabbing In Anuradhapura

More than 18 families have been living at "Nawa Elakadu Para" in Anuradhapura, near the German Bridge in Anuradhapura. One villager, named Sunil, said the people have been living for more than 25 years in this area, which is comprised mostly of poor people and widows. Recently, the Urban Development Authority (UDA) gave 10 perches land and told the people to leave from the current residencies. UDA has filed a case against these people in the magistrate court in Anuradhapura. The people had to attend in November, then again on 5th December. The case is still pending so the people again have to appear on 17th December, 2008, at the magistrate court in Anuradhapura. Now the people are requesting a six month time period and some compensation to build houses. They are helpless because of these evictions. People have begun gathering 200 Rupees per family from among the affected community (each family 200/=). Some families are unable to give even a rupee so they are suffering more than others. Due to this, the Praja Abhilasha Network has become involved and is providing legal and financial support for the affected people.

by: Raajan