A/HRC/34/53/Add.3 D. Muslims 53. Muslims make up close to one tenth of the whole population and roughly one third in the Eastern Province. It is essential to recognize the Muslim minority as a distinct group in Sri Lanka, with a specific set of circumstances and grievances. During the war, the Muslims suffered greatly, particularly at the hands of LTTE. Intimidation, harassment, abduction and extortion were common, and many lost properties and land, as well as their lives either through targeted killings or being trapped between warring factions. Having suffered complete exclusion from successive peace talks despite having been severely affected by the conflict, Muslims feel that they have also been excluded from meaningful political representation in local and national governance since the end of the war, a situation that continues. As one representative said, “Good governance is also ignoring us”. The Muslim representatives were anxious that any future electoral reform should fully and accurately ensure the proportional representation to which the community is entitled. In the ongoing reform and reconciliation efforts, it is of paramount importance that Muslims be able to be recognized in the political domain and have their voice heard. E. Plantation Tamils 54. According to all the socioeconomic and health indicators, including access to housing, health, education, literacy, sanitation and safe drinking water, Plantation Tamils are the most deprived group in the country. Landless and employed as daily labour, they have historically lived in complete isolation and are heavily dependent on the estates for their welfare and livelihood. Some of the estates are State-run and others are private. A majority of Plantation Tamils (67.8 per cent) 16 still live in so-called “line rooms” built during the colonial era, 20 per cent of which lack latrines. The only medical facilities available are medical posts staffed by estate medical assistants who often perform as doctors without the necessary qualifications or knowledge. 55. Many Plantation Tamils were deprived of citizenship and rendered stateless under the policies of successive Sinhalese Governments, and therefore excluded from any participation in public or political life until as recently as 2003 when the Grant of Citizenship to Persons of Indian Origin Act was enacted. Many of them experience difficulties in registering to vote, as well as in obtaining basic documents such as birth, death and marriage certificates and national identity cards. This is compounded by the fact that local authorities are predominantly Sinhala-speaking. Another difficulty originates from the fact that the estate communities have not been brought under the Sri Lankan public administration system and public services cannot reach them without prior permission from the estate management. The establishment of the Ministry of Hill Country New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development as well as a new National Plan of Action on Social Development of the Plantation Community (2016-2020) are welcome and much-needed steps. F. Caste-affected groups 56. The Special Rapporteur observed that the caste system, the existence of which is not disputed, is evidently an uncomfortable topic for the majority of Sri Lankans. She was told that three parallel caste systems that define interpersonal relationships exist within the Sinhala, Sri Lankan Tamil and Indian Tamil communities. Additionally, some members of 16 14 Information provided by the Human Development Organization, Sri Lanka.