Workers collect tea leaves at a plantation in Pussellawa, Sri Lanka. Behind every cup of world-famous Ceylon tea, there is a story of exploitation and bonded labor, said Apostolic Carmel Sister Maria Amali, whose congregation has worked amongSri Lanka ranks third behind China and Kenya as the largest tea exporters in the world.
On Nov. 2, 2023, Catholic and Protestant churches joined various political parties and local and international groups to celebrate the bicentenary of the workers' arrival. While traveling in an India-made three-wheeler taxi, locally called a tuk-tuk, through the green plantations, Sister Maria and this reporter came across heaps of plastic bags filled with tea leaves on the roadside.
Sister Maria Ebisagini, another member of the Apostolic Carmel convent in Pussellawa, manages a Montessori school for the workers' children. During GSR’s visit, she was busy with parents and some youth groups, setting up stalls and decorations, as they planned a festival the next day. Sister Maria Pramilda, who manages the home of around 45 children, said her girls study in a government-managed Tamil medium school.
After the school nationalization, her congregation focused on preschools and hostels for girls that over the years have served Tamil youth. The Salvatorians have a convent on the outskirts of Badulla where they have joined Caritas Sri Lanka to work in human rights movements that demand just wages for the workers.
Many private groups, who had bought the plantations from the government, forced the authorities to fix a minimum wage that is less than 1,000 Sri Lankan rupees a day.Most young people in the plantations have migrated to cities to work in hotels or do menial jobs that get them better wages.
Catholic News World Christian News Malaysia Islam Muslims Allah Dioceses Parishes Pope Nuns Priests
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Source: heraldmalaysia - 🏆 24. / 51 Read more »
Source: heraldmalaysia - 🏆 24. / 51 Read more »
Source: heraldmalaysia - 🏆 24. / 51 Read more »
Source: heraldmalaysia - 🏆 24. / 51 Read more »
Source: heraldmalaysia - 🏆 24. / 51 Read more »
Source: heraldmalaysia - 🏆 24. / 51 Read more »