Indian-Sri Lankan temporary citizenship was granted during my father’s time. I worked in the plantation as a tea plucker. Ordinary share certificate was given to us in 1997. This document was proof that we have worked in the plantation. We do not have land ownership. If we have land ownership, we can renovate this house….
Before coming to this hut, we were living in the line houses. There was no facility there and we used to stay in a rented house. There was no electricity and no toilet facilities either. This place belongs to the estate. Another person was living here and we paid money to buy this place. We…
There are five of us. I have three children. My wife goes to work in the estate. I go to work in the private vegetable estate here. When we say income, it is only the day’s work. My wife gets 1500 rupees, out of which she spends 500 rupees on bus transportation and the remaining…
Both me and my wife are working in the plantation. Our community has lived over 200 years but we can’t enjoy most of the rights mentioned in the laws of this country, since we belong to the minority. Even if we have lived 200 years we don’t have our own land. We are unable to…
The letters we receive are posted to the name of the estate since we don’t have our own personal address. People have lost university opportunities, job opportunities etc because we do not have permanent addresses. It is a big problem for us since we are unable to receive the letters posted by the school for…
Anti- Muslim violence was erupted in the southern Sri Lankan towns of Aluthgama, Dharga Town, Valipanna and Beruwela in June 2014. A large public meeting held by the Bodu Bala Sena, led by its General Secretary, Galabodaththe Gnanasara Thero. His racist and inflammatory statements encouraged violence against Muslims. The violence against Muslims erupted on that…
On 26th February, 2018, a group of Sinhalese youth stormed into restaurants owned by Muslims in Ampara, falsely alleging that the food sold at these restaurants contained a sterilisation pill aimed at Sinhala Buddhists customers. The youth threatened the owners and caused damage to the restaurants. In addition to several shops, a mosque was also…
After the Easter Sunday attack on April 21, 2019, anti-Muslim violence spread in areas such as Negombo and Minuwangoda. Shops belonging to Muslims in the Minuwangoda area were attacked, looted and set on fire. Several Muslims were killed and many injured in the attacks. Muslim mosques were also seriously damaged by violent Sinhalese groups.Justice has…
The army in our areas has a great impact on our daily lives and businesses. They have not left out any sector. They even run salons. They run hotels, big restaurants and even small cool-spots. From large-scale businesses to self-employed people who run road-side food huts are affected by this. These hotels are not inspected…
As women living in Mannar, we are often subjected to military checks. Sometimes we have sanitary napkins inside our bags. Even if there are new packets that have not been even open, the army asks us to open the packet and show it. They make indecent jokes and make us uncomfortable. My husband is a…