Tensions between unions in Sri Lanka’s plantation sector escalated into violence when three members of a family were assaulted at Newton Estate in the Norwood Police Division. The victims, a former supporter of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), his wife, and their 12-year-old son, were attacked by an alleged CWC supporter after joining the All Ceylon Estate Workers’ Union (ACEWU), affiliated with the National People’s Power (NPP).
Inspector Rajanayake, Officer-in-Charge (OIC) of the Norwood Police, confirmed the arrest of the suspect and stated that the three injured victims are currently receiving treatment at Dickoya Base Hospital. The suspect will be produced before the Hatton Magistrate’s Court as investigations continue.
The attack occurred amidst heightened competition between the CWC and ACEWU over union memberships for 2025. According to ACEWU Deputy Secretary and Nuwara Eliya District MP, Ms. Krishnan Kalaichelvi, the victims were among a growing number of plantation workers defecting from the CWC to join her union. She noted that 27 out of 40 union members at Newton Estate had switched to ACEWU, and approximately 75% of workers in the entire plantation area now align with her union.
“This attack appears to be an act of intimidation by rival unions,” Ms. Kalaichelvi stated during a media briefing. She alleged that members of other unions are resorting to threats and violence in response to the membership shift. “We have seen a pattern of harassment and influence exerted on our members to deter them from joining ACEWU,” she added.
Ms. Kalaichelvi announced her intention to collaborate with NPP MP Manjula Surawirarachchi to initiate legal action against those involved in the threats and violence. She emphasized the importance of safeguarding the rights and freedoms of plantation workers to choose their union affiliations without fear of retribution.
The incident highlights the increasing rivalry in Sri Lanka’s plantation sector, as unions vie for dominance in representing the labor force. Police continue to investigate, while the broader implications for industrial relations in the region remain a concern.
