Member of Parliament (MP) Mano Ganesan has called on Public Security Minister Ananda Wijepala to urgently convene a multi-stakeholder conference to address what he described as escalating violence against plantation residents in several districts.
In a letter dated Friday (15), Ganesan said recent incidents reported from the Ratnapura and Nuwara Eliya districts had raised serious concern among plantation communities and political representatives.
He noted that the issue had already been raised in Parliament last week alongside MP Jeevan Thondaman and Opposition Leader Sajith Premadasa.
Ganesan also said he had informed President Anura Kumara Dissanayake about the incidents during a telephone conversation on May 10.
“Yesterday (14), yet another incident was reported within the Uda Pussellawa Police Division, where a resident was assaulted and subsequently hospitalized,” Ganesan said in the letter.
“Under these circumstances, and in view of the growing urgency of the matter, I kindly request you to convene the promised conference without delay,” he added.
According to Ganesan, the proposed meeting would include Plantation and Community Infrastructure Minister K.V. Samantha Vidyarathna, the Inspector General of Police, provincial Deputy Inspectors General (DIG) representing six provinces, and Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of all 22 Regional Plantation Companies.
He further stated that MPs representing the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), along with several civil activists, hoped to participate in the conference to “amicably address and bring an end to these recurring incidents of violence.” (Newswire)