Estate Tamils living in the northwestern province are demanding land to build houses.
These Tamils, who arrived in Sri Lanka two centuries ago and live mostly in the hill-country, call themselves Malaiyaha Tamils.
Employees of several estates at Mawathagama, they staged a protest yesterday (05), asking that they be provided 20-perch each with deeds.
Civil activist Jeevaratnam Suresh said they should be given pride of place for having strengthened the economy even during the coronavirus pandemic.
They face language issues at state institutions, he also said.
The province is home to an estimated 11,000 Malaiyaha Tamils, said Suresh.
Two months ago, they staged a 14-day long march from Thalaimannar to Matale to mark their 200 year history and to press for their rights.
