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Malayaga Makkal are equal citizens of Lanka: Church of Ceylon
The Malayaga Makkal community, which over the years was referred to as the Indian Tamil or Upcountry Tamil community, for many years served as sacrificial labour, exploited and living in sub-human conditions despite being the backbone of the island’s economy.
The multiple forms of discrimination faced by the plantation Sector Community (Known as Malayaka Makkal) should be eliminated and the Government should take measures so that they could become equal citizens of a truly multi-ethnic and multi-religious Sri Lanka, the Church of Ceylon and a group of other organisations said in a media release early this week.
“As Sri Lanka celebrates the 75th anniversary of independence from colonial rule, the Church of Ceylon calls upon the Government and people to take steps to eliminate the multiple forms of discrimination faced by the Malayaga Makkal community so that they can become equal citizens of a truly multi-ethnic and multi-religious Sri Lanka,” it said.
On this historical occasion, the Church, as the Christ Community commits itself to journey together with this community towards its legitimate and deserved goals and objectives.
The Malayaga Makkal will commemorate two hundred years of their existence in this country this year, 2023. The tea plantations were one of the first foreign exchange earners for our country and laid the foundation for developments in the fields of education, health and infrastructure development that benefitted all communities in the country.
The Malayaga Makkal community, which over the years was referred to as the Indian Tamil or Upcountry Tamil community, for many years served as sacrificial labour, exploited and living in sub-human conditions despite being the backbone of the island’s economy.
We recall that this community cleared the treacherous jungles, courted danger and sacrificed their lives to firstly establish the plantations and thereafter worked under torrid conditions to make the plantations viable and ultimately a sector that was not only crucial to the country’s economic development but also an internationally recognized brand name for the country.
It is a matter of regret, however, that the vital contribution made by this community was not recognized and appreciated and that for decades the members of this community were subject to systemic discrimination.
The Citizenship Acts deprived them of citizenship; they were denied other basic human rights related to their dignity, privacy, economic security and educational opportunities. Though they have historically worked on the land, their rights to access and own land is severely curtailed.
There is a shortage of public officers who speak the Tamil language in divisional secretariats and other Governmental offices that are meant to cater to the needs of the people in the areas in which they live. The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, Tomoya Obokata, who visited Sri Lanka in December 2021, in his report to the Human Rights Council in 2022 noted:
“The Malayaga Tamils- who were brought from India to work in the plantation sector 200 years ago-continue to face multiple forms of discrimination based on their origin.”
The media communiqué was signed by: Rt. Revd. Dushantha Rodrigo, Bishop of Colombo President, Church of Ceylon, Revd. W.P. Ebenezer Joseph, President, Methodist Church Sri Lanka, Rt. Revd. Keerthisiri Fernando, Vicar General, Diocese of Kurunegala, Church of Ceylon, Revd. Sujithar Sivanayagam, General Secretary, National Christian Council of Sri Lanka.
The U.S. Embassy in Colombo welcomed the U.S. Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, former National Basketball Association (NBA) and Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) players Stephen Howard and Astou Ndiaye, from June 8 through 14.
The Public Diplomacy section of the U.S. Embassy said that it would launch a weeklong basketball program intended to harness the unifying power of sports, made possible through collaboration with Foundation of Goodness and IImpact Hoop Lab.
While in Sri Lanka, Howard and Ndiaye, both retired professional basketball players, will conduct a weeklong program, Hoops for Hope: Bridging Borders through Basketball. The Sports Envoys will lead basketball clinics and exhibition matches and engage in leadership sessions in Colombo and Southern Province for youth aged 14-18 from Northern, Uva, Eastern and Western Provinces, offering skills and leadership training both on and off the court. The U.S. Envoys will also share their expertise with the Sri Lanka Basketball Federation, national coaches, and players, furthering the development of basketball in the country. Beyond the clinics, they will collaborate with Sri Lankan schoolchildren to take part in a community service project in the Colombo area.
“We are so proud to welcome Stephen and Astou as our Sports Envoys to Sri Lanka, to build on the strong people-to-people connections between the United States and Sri Lanka,” said U.S. Ambassador Julie Chung. “The lessons that will be shared by our Sports Envoys – communication, teamwork, resilience, inclusion, and conflict resolution – are essential for leadership development, community building, equality, and peace. The U.S. Sports Envoy program is a testament to our belief that sports can be a powerful tool in promoting peace and unity.”
SJB Colombo District MP Mujibur Rahuman in parliament demanded to know from the government the reasons for CEB suspending the leave of all its employees until further notice from Thursday.
MP Rahuman said that the CEB has got an acting General Manager anew and the latter yesterday morning issued a circular suspending leave of all CEB employees with immediate effect until further notice.
“We demand that Minister Kanchana Wijesekera should explain this to the House. This circular was issued while this debate on the new Electricity Amendment Bill was pending. There are many who oppose this Bill. The Minister must tell parliament the reason for the urge to cancel the leave of CEB employees,” the MP said.However, Speaker Mahinda Yapa Abeywardena prevented Minister Wijesekera responding to the query and said that the matter raised by MP Rahuman was not relevant.
The Chartered Institute of Personnel Management (CIPM) successfully concluded the 8th Annual CIPM Symposium, which took place on 31st May 2024. Themed “Nurturing the Human Element—Redefining HRM in a Rapidly Changing World,” the symposium underscored the pivotal role of human resource management (HRM) in today’s dynamic global landscape. Since its inception in 1959, CIPM has been dedicated to advancing the HR profession through education, professional development, and advocacy, solidifying its position as Sri Lanka’s leading professional body for HRM.
Ken Vijayakumar, the President of the CIPM, graced the occasion as the chief guest. The symposium commenced with the welcome address by the Chairperson, Prof. Arosha Adikaram, followed by the Web Launch of the Symposium Proceedings and Abstract Book by the CIPM President. The event featured distinguished addresses, including a speech by Chief Guest Ken Vijayakumar, President of CIPM, and an address by Guest of Honor Shakthi Ranatunga, Chief Operating Officer of MAS Holdings Pvt. Ltd., Sri Lanka.
The symposium also featured an inspiring keynote address by Prof. Mario Fernando, Professor of Management and Director of the Centre for Cross Cultural Management (CCCM) at the University of Wollongong, Australia.
Vote of Thanks of the inauguration session was delivered by Dr. Dillanjani Weeratunga, Symposium Co-chair.
The symposium served as a comprehensive platform for researchers to present their findings across a wide range of critical topics in HRM. These included Cultural Diversity and Inclusion, Talent Development and Retention, Ethical Leadership and Corporate Social Responsibility, Adapting to Technological Advancements, Mental Health and Well-being at Work, Global Workforce Challenges, Employee Empowerment, and Reskilling and Upskilling.
The plenary session was led by Prof. Wasantha Rajapakse. Certificates were awarded to the best paper presenters during the valedictory session, followed by a vote of thanks delivered by Kamani Perera, Manager of Research and Development.
The annual symposium of CIPM was a truly inclusive event, attracting a diverse audience that spanned undergraduates, graduates, working professionals, research scholars and lecturers. This widespread interest highlights the symposium’s significance in the field of HRM, offering a unique opportunity for everyone to network and learn from scholarly brains.The CIPM International Research Symposium was sponsored by Hambantota International Port, Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), E B Creasy & Co. PLC, and Print Xcel Company.
US sports envoys to Lanka to champion youth development
Rahuman questions sudden cancellation of leave of CEB employees
