our history

Late Hon. Santhanam
Arullsamy

Brave individual and collective action can make that world a reality

Late Hon. Santhanam Arullsamy (21 September 1959 – 6 January 2019) was a distinguished Sri Lankan politician, veteran trade unionist, and lifelong advocate for the plantation community. Over the course of more than forty years of public service, he worked tirelessly to advance education, social justice, and workers’ rights, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire.

Champion of Education

  • As Minister of Education and Hindu Cultural Affairs in the Central Province, he achieved a historic milestone by appointing 3,200 teachers to the plantation sector in a single initiative—the first and only time in Sri Lanka’s history such a large-scale deployment was carried out.
  • He spearheaded the building and upgrading of over 500 plantation-sector schools, bringing quality infrastructure to marginalized areas.
  • He set an ambitious goal of sending 500 students annually from plantation communities to public universities. Today, that figure has grown to over 1,000 students every year, a living testament to his vision

Trade Unionist & Worker Representative

  • A veteran trade unionist, Arullsamy dedicated decades to improving wages, housing, land rights, and fundamental entitlements for estate workers.
  • He was a prominent representative of labour at both national and international levels, serving as Chairman of the Plantation Human Development Trust (PHDT), a permanent representative to Sri Lanka’s Labour Commission, and a delegate to International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions in Geneva, where he stood for worker dignity and rights.

Political & Public Service

  • Arullsamy served as a Member of Parliament and as a central figure in Sri Lanka’s labour and plantation policy reforms.
  • His work was guided by the principle that every citizen, regardless of background, deserves access to education, housing, healthcare, and equal opportunities.

Legacy

Hon. S. Arullsamy’s forty years of dedicated service reshaped the future of the plantation community in Sri Lanka. His bold initiatives in education and unwavering fight for worker rights remain unmatched. The Arullsamy Foundation upholds his vision, continuing to empower marginalized families through education, welfare, and social development, ensuring his legacy of justice and equality endures for generations to come