Parliament erupts over plantation workers’ ordeal in Matale

Tense situation arose in Parliament yesterday as a group of MPs from the Samagi Jana Balawegaya (SJB) protested in the well of the house displaying placards against the eviction of three families residing in the Ratwatte Estate in Matale by the Plantation Managment company. The protest was held for almost an hour and the Speaker had to put in a lot of effort to control the situation. Members of Parliament Rohini Kumari Wijeratne, Vadivel Suresh, S.Radhakrishnan, Mano Ganeshan, S. Velu Kumar, Kins Nelson, Chaminda Wijesiri, Kavinda Jayawardene and several other MPs engaged in the protest for almost an hour by displaying placards.

The Speaker started the proceedings of Parliament, presenting a Supreme Court decision that had been sent to Parliament.Then the Leader of the Opposition, Sajith Premadasa, asked about the incident by raising the question.

The Opposition Leader mentioned that the three families who had been evicted by a group attached to the estate management company, had acted in a terrible manner. It had destroyed the few houses that had been temporarily built. The leader of the opposition said that this is a wrong act and he is sorry for such an incident in a government estate. The leader of the Opposition also said that the Government has failed to do justice for the estate workers.

Plantation Industries Minister Dr. Ramesh Pathirana said the government expresses its regret over the eviction of three families from the Ratwatte Estate by the Plantation Managment Company. This should not have happened. Action has been taken to transfer the relevant officer of the plantation company and the impartial investigation will be carried out shortly in this regard.

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