From Black July to Land Rights: The Up-Country Tamils’ Unceasing Struggle for Rights | Maruthan Ram The ‘Black July’ genocide of July 1983 left a deep scar on the history of Sri Lanka. This genocide profoundly affected not only the Tamils of the North and East but also the Tamils of the Up-country plantation sector. Lives were lost, homes were burned, and properties were looted—all solely because of their identity as Tamils. Thousands of families were rendered refugees. More than four decades have passed since then, yet the question remains: has the struggle for the rights of the Up-country people truly ended? While the nature of ‘Black July’ may have changed, various quarters continue to allege that issues such as land rights, livelihood security, labor rights, and administrative pressures persist. Commemorations of Black July often focus on incidents in the North, East, and Colombo; however, Up-country Tamils also fell victim to that violence. Up-country Tamils living and working in areas like Colombo, Kandy, Gampaha, Ratnapura, and Badulla were attacked. Many lost their lives, and homes were torched. Numerous families were forced to flee back to the plantations, while others sought refuge in India. That experience planted a question in the minds of the Up-country people: “Do we have genuine security in this country?” That question persists to this day. Trade unions continue to point out that, despite various changes in the plantation management system since Sri Lanka’s independence, workers in many plantations still do not enjoy full freedom or equal rights. Workers continue to face a situation where they must struggle for various necessities, including wages, the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF), the Employees’ Trust Fund (ETF), housing, drinking water, land rights, agriculture, education, and healthcare. Amidst all these issues, the primary demand of the Up-country people is ‘permanent land rights.’ They lack legal title deeds even for the homes they have inhabited for generations. Consequently, they are unable to expand their houses or secure bank loans. They cannot utilize the land without the administration’s permission, and there are complications regarding the transfer of property rights across generations. Notably, they are still required to obtain permission from the estate management even to construct a private toilet; any structure built without such authorization is liable to be demolished by the management. Furthermore, incidents involving assaults on workers and their families by officials—including estate managers—continue to be reported in the Up-country regions. For instance, a tense situation has arisen following allegations that a young man was assaulted at the Unugolla Estate in Hali-ela, Badulla District. It is reported that the manager assaulted the youth at the manager’s office last week. The assault reportedly occurred when the young man visited the office to obtain a signature on an application to register a self-employment venture. Condemning this incident, various groups—including estate residents, youth, government officials, and trade union representatives—engaged in ongoing protest actions. Subsequently, a delegation led by Raguraj, the Deputy General Secretary of the Up-country People’s Front (UPF), visited the site and held discussions with the affected parties. A police complaint has been lodged against the manager regarding the assault, and preliminary investigations have reportedly been conducted. This incident once again raises the same fundamental question mentioned earlier. Similarly, the violent attack on a makeshift house in the Neelakamam Estate—located in the Kahawatta area of the Ratnapura District—and the assault on its residents drew national attention. In late April, a group clad in black attire demolished the house in the Neelakamam Estate and attacked the occupants. The Kahawatta police arrested several individuals alleged to be involved in the incident. Allegations surfaced that former military personnel were behind the attack, leading to demands for the removal of private security agencies from the estates and the appointment of estate workers as security personnel instead. Furthermore, protests condemning this violence against the Up-country community took place in both Colombo and the estate regions. The issue was also debated at the level of national politics. This incident was not merely a housing dispute; it was directly linked to a family’s food security, income, and future. At the same time, it once again raised the question: “Do we truly have security in this country?” Lesson of Black July Black July has taught us the biggest lesson that when the rights of a community are continuously ignored, it can turn into a major social crisis at some point. Social justice cannot happen without hearing the voice of the people, protecting their lands and ensuring their livelihoods. Similarly plantation managers should not only aim at production but also feel the responsibility to protect labor rights, human rights, rule of law and social harmony. In case of disagreements, they should be resolved through dialogue. Intimidation, violence, destruction of crops or vandalism are not acceptable under any circumstances. When such allegations arise, they should be investigated independently and in accordance with the law. At the same time, the government should also focus on issues such as providing permanent land rights to the people of the highlands, guaranteeing plantation houses, legal protection of agricultural lands, creating an independent resolution system for labor-management issues, strengthening the human rights monitoring system in plantations, and expanding education and career opportunities for the youth. Black July is not only a reminder of the past but also a warning for the future. In 1983 lives and properties were lost for being Tamils. Today, the struggle of the hill people has become a struggle to protect land rights, livelihood and human dignity. The Haliela – Unukolla plantation incident in Badulai district and the Ratnapura Neelakam incident are reminders that the rights of the plantation people are still questions that need to be resolved. The people of the hills have built the economy of this country through their labor for centuries. Granting them permanent land rights, secure lives, human rights and equality before the law is not a privilege. It is a constitutional responsibility of the Government of Sri Lanka and a fundamental duty of democracy. The biggest responsibility facing the government, plantation companies and society today is to create a future so that the wounds of Black July do not recur in any form in the lives of the hill people and the Tamil people.