Minister of Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman has issued a clarification over video footage circulating on social media showing him using abusive language and threatening an official at an estate in Matale.
The incident occurred when Minister Thondaman visited the Ratwatte Estate in the Elkaduwa Plantation in the Matale District to inquire about the mistreatment of an impoverished family by the estate assistant manager.
The matter was earlier highlighted by Opposition MP Mano Ganesan who had shared video footage of the assistant manager of the government-owned estate mistreating the impoverished family by forcibly tearing down their house.
Sharing the video, MP Mano Ganesan stated that he had informed Minister of Plantations Ramesh Pathirana in this regard and had called for the estate assistant manager to be sacked over the incident.
#Modern_Slavery act of Estate Manager at #Lka government owned Matale district Elkaduwa Plantations, Ratwatta Estate lower division. Short-while ago, I called Plantation minister #RameshPathirana, yelled at him; " Sack the Fellow, We are at the end of our patience". #ManoGanesan… pic.twitter.com/mGOrYDkNqK
— Mano Ganesan (@ManoGanesan) August 19, 2023
While inquiring about the incident during his visit to the estate yesterday, Minister Jeevan Thondaman and an estate official engaged in a heated exchange of words, the video of which was circulated on social media platforms.
Providing clarification on the matter, Minister Thondaman said he had visited the Ratwatte Estate in the Elkaduwa Plantation in the Matale district yesterday after a distressing video revealed an impoverished family being mistreated by an assistant manager.
“As Minister, I demanded action from the Chairman and General Manager of the Estate against this behaviour. Immediate steps were taken, and the Assistant Manager has been removed and dismissed.
“The Chairman, General Manager, and the responsible Assistant Manager also personally apologised to the affected family. Moreover, the Estate has committed to constructing a permanent home for them within its premises. But this is just the beginning,” he said.
Minister Thondaman further said, under the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT) in his Ministry, they are initiating a project to build 11 additional permanent homes for families on the Estate.
“It is time to uplift the lives of those who have endured substandard conditions for far too long. These actions are particularly significant as we commemorate 200 years since the arrival of our plantation community of Indian-origin Tamils.
“Our resolve is clear: We are committed to addressing historical injustices. To achieve this, I have established seven policy formulation committees, focusing on land and housing, education, child development, labour and employment, health, gender and women’s empowerment, and economic upliftment of the plantation community.
“These committees will develop recommendations that will shape the future of plantation communities. From this November onward, we anticipate commencing the implementation of these recommendations,” he said.
Stressing that no one should be denied dignity or a home, the Minister said, “No one should be indentured to a company through birth. No one should have to endure the humiliation that this family was subjected to.”
“Our policies will ensure that everyone has the opportunity to thrive and live with the respect they deserve. This era of indignity for my people will end with me,” he added. (NewsWire)