Upcountry Tamils In Plantations: Politics A Void Situation?

By Vijayanathan Loganathan –July 14, 2015

Vijayanathan Loganathan

With the nomination saga ending mid-day 13 July both UPFA and UNP are widely covered by the media and political discourses drawing from the drama that unfolded during last few weeks. These ascendancies however have diminished the visibility of minor parties elsewhere in the country. There is attention paid to JVP as a third force covering much of its positions and speeches but seemingly less focus on plantations where there is sizable voters and once termed as a turning point in electoral politics. LateThondaman was often referred to as a ‘king maker’ in the national political front. All such importance diminished with electoral politics being somewhat polarized after 2005 with entry in to active politics by forces playing Sinhala Buddhist pronouncements. 

 During the times of late S Thondaman the politics of plantation people took a significant place if not a central role to support the ruling coalitions be it blue or green. As a leader of a population of 1.5 million (within and outside plantations), Late Soumiyamoorthy Thondaman positioned himself and acted with resilience and great responsibility. Through his political foresightedness and with a defined process taking in to confidence of many intellectuals he was able to reap the benefits for his people.Read More