'Malaiyaha': The word that stumped Weerawansa

Colombo, Feb 26 (Daily Mirror) - In a TV talk show on a Sri Lankan TV channel on 24 February, 2025, a list referred to by former Minister and current leader of the National Freedom Front (NFF) Wimal Weerawansa carried a word that stumped the former Parliamentarian, as well as the moderator. The moderator too showed signs of being unaware of the reference.

The reference was to a list mentioning dates where the US Ambassador had met several prominent persons in Sri Lanka since January. In one instance, reference is made to the Ambassador meeting a prominent politician and discussing matters, including the ‘Malaiyaha’ community. Wimal Weerawansa says he is unaware of such an entity, and also confirms with the moderator if his pronunciation is correct.

It should be stated that the word ‘Malaiyaha’ – or related to the up-country - refers to the up-country plantation sector Tamils, for instance, they are now being called the ‘Malaiyaha Thamil’ community. In Sinhala, they were referred to overall as the ‘Wathukara Damila Prajawa’ or plantation sector Tamil community. This is mainly to single out and differentiate the up-country Tamil community from the rest of the plantation sector Tamils, especially after the demise of the senior Thondamans, Saumyamoorthi and Arumugam who had a great influence over this Tamil community.