The Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) have raised concerns over the government’s reported move to abolish the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA).
TPA Leader, MP Mano Ganesan, has raised concerns over the government’s reported move to abolish the NEVIDA, commonly referred to as the Malaiyaha Authority, and convert it into a division under a Ministry
In a letter addressed to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, MP Mano Ganesan pointed out that the NEVIDA was established at the initiative of his party with the active participation of the Malaiyaha civil society, under Act #32 of 2018 during the Good Governance government.
Stating that it is understood that the government intends to hand over the activities of this Authority under the purview of a Ministry, MP Ganesan urged the President to reconsider this course of action.
MP Ganesan further pointed out that such an effort cannot be sustained by a single Ministry and that the multifaceted nature of these challenges demands a coordinating body that draws together the work of several Ministries and ensures continuity beyond political transitions.
“I must therefore, with respect but with equal firmness, urge your government to desist from this attempt. The preservation of the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA) is not merely an administrative matter; it is a question of justice, equity, and the fulfilment of a historic responsibility toward a long-marginalized community under the globally accepted affirmative policy. I trust you will give this matter your most serious consideration and act in the best interests of the Malaiyaha Tamil community and the nation,” he added.
Also raising concerns over the matter, General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), Jeevan Thondaman, said the move to repeal the New Village Development Authority is completely unacceptable.
Issuing a statement, Thondaman said it has served as a vital mechanism to provide services to the plantation community.
“Similarly, by utilizing the Plantation Human Development Trust, the Ceylon Workers’ Congress used its political strength to hold plantation companies accountable and ensure that essential services and development projects reached the people. When it comes to the Plantation Human Development Trust, it functions merely as a tool of the plantation companies, it is not a people’s mechanism. That is why the Good Governance Government brought in the Plantation Human Development Trust: to directly and independently deliver services to the plantation people,” he said.
He pointed out that even for building a house, plantation workers must seek permission from estate managers, but through the New Village Development Authority, they have been able to secure practical solutions to such pressing issues.
“The Trust has also made it possible to deal directly with matters such as land ownership and housing approvals. Like the Urban Development Authority or the Road Development Authority, the village Development Authority was intended to function independently. Therefore, the government’s decision to close it down on the grounds that it is not functioning effectively is nothing but absurd,” he added.
- The full letter of MP Mano Ganesan to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake;
Subject: Attempt to abolish the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA) established under Act #32 of 2018 and convert it into a division under a Ministry
I write to you with utmost urgency and respect regarding the government’s reported move to abolish the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA) —commonly referred to by our community as the Malaiyaha Authority—which was established at initiative of our party with the active participation of Malaiyaha civil society, under Act #32 of 2018 during the Good Governance government.
It is understood that the intention of your government is to hand over the activities of this Authority under the purview of a Ministry.
Mr. President, I earnestly urge you to reconsider this course of action.
As you are aware, the Malaiyaha Tamil community, residing in the plantation regions of Nuwara Eliya, Colombo (Avissawella), Kandy, Matale, Ratnapura, Kegalle, Kalutara, Badulla, Monaragala, Galle, Matara, and Kurunegala districts has for over two centuries endured systemic social, economic, and cultural marginalization.
This prolonged disadvantage is rooted in historical exclusion, whereby the community was denied land ownership, housing, access to services of the public administration, national education and healthcare, as well as citizenship and voting rights.
It was only gradually—schools were incorporated into the national system as late as 1976, and last segment of this community obtained full citizenship only in 2003—that the community began to emerge from this long history of exclusion.
Consequently, our people entered the national development process significantly late, which explains why they remain among the most disadvantaged groups in the country today.
Recognizing this reality, acknowledging the need for targeted and sustained interventions, between 2015 and 2019, during the Good Governance government, we, the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) worked to advance long-overdue rights—land and housing rights and entitlements, rights to education and healthcare, improved livelihood with fair incomes and wages, Empowerment of Malaiyaha youth and women and poverty alleviation. Crucially, these initiatives aimed to integrate the Malaiyaha Tamil community into the national mainstream.
Such an effort cannot be sustained by a single Ministry. The multifaceted nature of these challenges demands a coordinating body that draws together the work of several Ministries and ensures continuity beyond political transitions.
It was precisely to meet this need—and to institutionalize an affirmative policy framework—we of the TPA worked tirelessly, that Parliament, through Act #32 of 2018, established the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA).
To now dissolve this Authority and reduce it to a division under a Ministry would be a grave historical error. Unlike statutory bodies created through legislation, Ministries and their internal sections and divisions are subject to administrative changes and may be dissolved or restructured at the discretion of the Executive.
The Authority, by contrast, derives its legitimacy and permanence from Parliament under relevant act, in this case Act No. 32 of 2018, and therefore guarantees continuity of service to the community irrespective of changes in government.
Mr. President, as you mark one year in office this month, allow me first to extend my congratulations. You have made significant commitments to the Malaiyaha Tamil people. However, it must be noted with regret that in this past year, the community has yet to witness tangible progress in the fulfillment of those promises. More concerning still, the present move threatens to dismantle one of the few institutional gains already secured.
I must therefore, with respect but with equal firmness, urge your government to desist from this attempt. The preservation of the New Villages Development Authority for Plantation Region (NEVIDA) is not merely an administrative matter; it is a question of justice, equity, and the fulfillment of a historic responsibility toward a long-marginalized community under the globally accepted affirmative policy.
I trust you will give this matter your most serious consideration and act in the best interests of the Malaiyaha Tamil community and the nation.
- The full statement of Jeevan Thondaman:
“The New village Development Authority was introduced by the Good Governance Government, and we welcomed it at that time. It has served as a vital mechanism to provide services to the plantation community.
Similarly, by utilizing the Plantation Human Development Trust, the Ceylon Workers’ Congress used its political strength to hold plantation companies accountable and ensure that essential services and development projects reached the people.
However, after the Ceylon Workers’ Congress moved to the Opposition, plantation companies have only strengthened their authority and dominance.
When it comes to the Plantation Human Development Trust, it functions merely as a tool of the plantation companies, it is not a people’s mechanism. That is why the Good Governance Government brought in the Plantation Human Development Trust: to directly and independently deliver services to the plantation people.
To illustrate, even for building a house, plantation workers must seek permission from estate managers. But through the New Village Development Authority, they have been able to secure practical solutions to such pressing issues.
Moreover, through our trade union strength, we have negotiated with plantation companies and enabled housing for the people. But if the present government has achieved even 10 percent of this, it remains highly questionable!
The Trust has also made it possible to deal directly with matters such as landownership and housing approvals. Like the Urban Development Authority or the Road Development Authority, the village Development Authority was intended to function independently.
Therefore, the government’s decision to close it down on the grounds that it is not functioning effectively is nothing but absurd.
Furthermore, it is clear that the President himself does not understand the true power and role of the village Development Authority. This lack of awareness has led to attempts to reduce it into just a department under a ministry. But it must be emphasized that the Trust is not like any other institution.
Deputy Ministers and up country ruling party representatives should be ashamed of themselves. The plantation people voted for them with immense trust and sent them to Parliament. Yet, when it comes to solving issues or giving answers, they prove to be incompetent, spineless, and indifferent.
They criticized us heavily on the issue of plantation wages. But today, these ruling party representatives of the up country are unable to secure even a single rupee increase for the people.
At present, there is not a single Cabinet Minister representing the hill country within the ruling party. In such a context, the move to abolish the Plantation Human Development Trust is unacceptable and entirely wrong.
Eliminating institutions under the guise of cost-cutting and saving is not justifiable. For example, we cannot simply abolish the Ceylon Electricity Board.
Among the youth today, there is rising frustration, and their concerns are legitimate. Instead of addressing them, the government is exploiting these frustrations as a weapon, destabilizing the nation further.
Finally, I would like to state Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep truly has any concern or sense of duty toward the plantation community, then he must publicly release a statement opposing the move to abolish the New Villages Development Authority.” (Newswire)
