A special consultation was held yesterday (05 August 2026) to gather practical proposals, recommendations, and expert guidance that will contribute to the legal measures to be undertaken by the Deputy Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure to secure the land rights of the Malaiyaha community.
The consultation, organized under the leadership of the Hon. Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep was held at the auditorium of the Deputy Ministry of Plantation and Community Infrastructure. Representatives of civil society organizations, community activists, and experts who have long been working on issues relating to land rights, housing, and the fundamental rights of the Malaiyaha community participated in the discussion and shared their views and recommendations.
Mr. Anthony Jesudasan Executive Director of the Voice of the Plantation People Organization (VOPP)**, also participated in the consultation and presented several key recommendations. He highlighted that a significant number of Malaiyaha families living in the Matara, Galle, and Kalutara districts have still not received legal title deeds or official land ownership documents for lands allocated to them by the Government after 1993.
He further emphasized that, although these families have been residing on and using these lands for many years, the absence of legal ownership documents has left thousands of households in an insecure situation. As a result, they continue to face barriers in accessing housing assistance, bank loan facilities, and various government development programmes, thereby being deprived of several fundamental rights.
Mr. Jesudasan also commended the Deputy Minister and his officials for their continued efforts to engage with civil society organizations and seek their recommendations in the process of developing sustainable solutions to the land rights issues affecting the Malaiyaha community.
Also present at the consultation were Mr. SivanesanPrivate Secretary to the Hon. Deputy Minister, Mr. Vasanth, Coordinating Secretary, and Mrs. Bhuvaneswari, Public Relations Officer.
