Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath says politically recognizing the upcountry Tamils as the ‘Malayaga People’ is a profound gesture of respect, acknowledgement, and pride for that community.
In a statement on social media, Minister Herath said that the government is systematically enacting the necessary legal reforms to fulfil this commitment.
“As a government, within this short period, we are moving forward with our responsibility to protect human rights,” he said.
Minister Vijitha Herath pointed out that the ‘Malayaga People’ are officially registered in documents, including birth certificates, as “Malayaga Tamil people”.
“They must be recognized as citizens of our country, and their rights must be protected. They deserve their own homes, land, quality education, healthcare, and transportation facilities. The Hatton Declaration was presented for this purpose, and it must be implemented systematically,” he said.
The Foreign Minister revealed that arrangements were made to legally provide housing for approximately 4,200 families in Bandarawela on 03rd August, but due to a technical obstacle, the process was delayed to some extent.
“These are the people who have long suffered in our country, facing hardship and limited access to education. We acknowledged this reality decades ago. We are committed to fulfilling these promises. Therefore, we assure that there will be no further delays in this regard,” he assured.
Minister Herath also noted that for the first time in Sri Lankan history, the people of the hill country, especially from Badulla, Nuwara Eliya, Matale, Ratnapura, and surrounding areas, have extended their support to the National People’s Power (NPP) movement. (Islandnews)
