The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel

Ms. Ambika Samivel raised a supplementary question regarding the maintenance responsibility for estate roads, which fall outside the jurisdiction of local authorities or the PRDA/RDA. She noted that several such roads had been repaired during the current year and sought clarification on whether the Ministry had engaged in discussions with estate companies and relevant authorities to establish clear, ongoing maintenance responsibilities for these roads.

Ms. Ambika Samivel raised a supplementary question regarding verbal harassment faced by women workers on estates, particularly by supervisory staff. She inquired whether a mechanism exists to ensure legal action is taken in such cases and called on the Minister to address the issue.

The Hon. (Ms.) Ambika Samivel submitted Written Question No. 1466/2025 to the Minister of Plantation and Community Infrastructure concerning the safety and welfare of plantation workers. The question addresses two distinct concerns: first, the physical hazards faced by plantation workers, including wild animal attacks, snake and wasp bites, and chemical exposure, requesting details on complaints received over the past five years and measures taken to mitigate these risks. Second, it raises the issue of workplace harassment — verbal, physical, or otherwise — by employers, and seeks clarification on whether legal action has been or will be taken to address such conduct.

## Summary Hon. Ambika Samivel, representing a hill country electorate, addressed Parliament on the occasion of Sri Lanka's 78th Independence Day, arguing that the hill country community has only now achieved meaningful freedom after being stripped of citizenship and voting rights under the 1949 Citizenship Act. She contended that within one year and three months of the National People's Power Government taking office, significant progress has been made on longstanding demands including land rights, housing rights, and wage increases for the hill country Tamil community. She highlighted specific constituency-level initiatives, including an e-library, a mini-government service centre, and planned vocational training facilities, as evidence of the Government's commitment to integrating the hill country community into the national mainstream. She concluded by affirming the Government's intention to further develop the region through tourism, industry, and professionalisation of tea cultivation over the remainder of its term.