Swiss Agricultural Journalist Ms. Susanne Sigrist Meets with Voice of the Plantation People Organization in Sri Lanka

We are excited to share that Ms. Susanne Sigrist, an esteemed agricultural journalist for the Swiss farmer newspaper Schweizer Bauer, is currently visiting Sri Lanka. During her visit, Ms. Sigrist met with key leaders of the Voice of the Plantation People Organization (VOPP) on Friday, August 23, 2024, at the VOPP Coordination Office in Negombo.

Present at the meeting were Mr. Anthony Jesudasan, Executive Director, Mrs. Lavina Hasanthi, Program Director, and Mr. Francis Raajan, National Program Officer of VOPP. They were joined by Mr. Aruna Shantha, contributing to a comprehensive discussion on the current situation of the Malaiyaha Tamil community, a historically marginalized group in Sri Lanka.

The conversation centered on the life conditions of the Malaiyaha people, highlighting the challenges they face, especially in terms of wages and living standards. Ms. Sigrist, with her deep expertise in agriculture and rural communities, was particularly interested in understanding the socio-economic dynamics within the plantation sector and how VOPP's work is striving to address these critical issues.

The dialogue was insightful, shedding light on the persistent struggles of the Malaiyaha Tamil community while exploring avenues for greater international awareness and support. We are grateful to Ms. Sigrist for her interest in our work and the plight of the plantation workers in Sri Lanka.

Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to collaborate

and raise awareness on these crucial issues.