Residents of Samimalai Stockham Estate stood united, demanding their promised housing land as estate management attempted to replace homes with coffee plants.
In the misty hills of Nuwara Eliya, the people of Samimalai Stockham Estate under the Norwood Police Division staged a powerful protest on September 4, 2025. Their grievance was clear: land that had been allocated for a housing project was instead being used by estate management to plant coffee.
The disputed land was originally earmarked for 50 houses under a housing project funded by the Government of India during the previous Yahapalana administration. Instead of construction, estate officials promoted coffee cultivation, planted saplings, and even set up a childcare center on the site. For families who had long dreamed of moving into safe, permanent homes, this was seen as a betrayal.
Protesters gathered with banners and slogans that echoed through the plantation. “Give us the land for housing. Improve the lives of the hill country people,” they demanded, refusing to allow estate authorities to erase their hopes with rows of coffee plants.
Tensions escalated when estate management attempted to block some workers from joining the protest. A scuffle broke out between demonstrators and a field officer, underscoring the depth of frustration in the community.
The people stressed that the plantation project was not only unjust but also unsustainable, recalling a 2018 report by the National Building Research Institute which highlighted the land’s suitability for housing. For them, the issue went beyond coffee. It was about dignity, security, and a fair chance at a better life.
Residents appealed directly to the Minister of Plantations, Estate Infrastructure and Social Development, Samantha Wittiyaratne, and Deputy Minister Sundaralingam Pradeep to intervene. Their message was simple: hill country families deserve homes, not coffee fields.
The protest in Samimalai is more than a clash over land. It is a reminder of how Sri Lankans come forward when their rights are threatened, and how communities rally together to demand justice and a future worth living.
