Malaiyaha Tamils, who live mainly in the plantations, are to be recognized as a separate community.
Their representative Anthony Jesudasan said the director general of census and statistics has agreed to give them that recognition.
They will be called either Indian Tamils or Malaiyaha Tamils, said the convener of the civil society collective of the community.
He said two of their demands made during a march last year have now been met.
Another has been fulfilled via a court order that gives the community the right to postal addresses.
Mainly demanding citizenship rights, they marched from Thalaimannar to Matale, taking the same route their ancestors from India took 200 years ago to reach the hill-country, where they have since been working mainly as tea estate labourers.
To mark the first anniversary of that march, an event took place at a memorial at Urmanai in Talaimannar on 28 July.
They also demand the recognition of their history, struggle and economic contributions, and access to education, health and social security.
A reasonable payment for their work, workplace dignity, protection and equal salaries for men and women, land, livelihood and housing rights and the protection and promotion of their culture are also included.
