Upcountry Martyrs’ Day observed at University of Jaffna

Hill Country Martyrs’ Day was observed today, Saturday, at the University of Jaffna, commemorating plantation Tamil martyrs who laid down their lives in the struggle for labour rights, language rights, economic justice, and the wider civil and political rights of the Up Country Tamil people.

The commemoration highlighted the historic resistance of plantation Tamils against exploitative labour conditions and systemic discrimination, which shaped the early labour movements in the island’s plantation sector. Participants reflected on the sacrifices made by workers who challenged entrenched structures of oppression in pursuit of dignity, fair wages, and equal rights.

The date holds particular significance, as 10 January marks the death of Mulloya Govindan, who was killed on 10 January, 1940, as protests at the Mulloya estate demanding a wage rise were brutally put down.. His death has since come to symbolise the broader struggle of the Malayaga Tamil community.

The observance at the University of Jaffna underscored the continued relevance of these historic struggles, as plantation Tamil workers today continue to face economic marginalisation, insecure livelihoods, and structural inequality. Organisers noted that Hill Country Martyrs’ Day serves not only as a moment of remembrance, but also as a reaffirmation of ongoing demands for justice and equality for the Hill Country Tamil people.