AG informs SC Plantation Min. to provide registered permanent addresses to estate workers

By Lakmal Sooriyagoda

The Attorney General has informed the Supreme Court that the Secretary to the Ministry of Plantation Industry is currently studying the possibility of providing registered permanent addresses to the estate community residents.

Deputy Solicitor General Kanishka de Silva made these remarks when the Fundamental Rights petition filed by an estate worker seeking an order directing the authorities to grant registered permanent addresses to the estate community residents all over the country, which came up before the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court three-judge-bench comprising Chief Justice Jayantha Jayasuriya, Justice Murdu Fernando and Justice Mahinda Samayawardena fixed the petition for September 13, to evaluate the progress of the decision taken by the authorities.

Senior Counsel Lakshan Dias appeared for the petitioner.

Petitioner Jeewarathnam Sureshkumar a resident of Muwankanda Waththa in Mawathagama filed this petition concerning the Estate Workers and their families living in Sri Lanka who are considered as citizens of this country but are equally aggrieved as the petitioner himself due to the lack of registered residential addresses allocated to their residences.
The petitioner had named the Minister of Public Administration, Home Affairs Dinesh Gunawardena, Minister of Plantation Industries Ramesh Pathirana, Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman and several others as respondents.