Sri Lanka’s Cabinet Minister and leader of the Ceylon Worker’ Congress passed away on Tuesday night due to heart attack. He was 55.
Mr. Thondaman served as Minister of Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development in President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s government.
It was reported that the Minister was active throughout the day holding several meetings and discussions. He had met the Indian High Commissioner Gopal Baglay on Tuesday to discuss about the development works in hill-country side where Malaiaha Tamils reside. Malaiaha Tamils are people of Indian origin who went from various parts of Tamil Nadu to Sri Lanka during the British period to work in tea and rubber plantations.
Arumugan Ramanathan Thondaman born 29 May 1964, is the son of Ramanathan Thondaman and the grandson of Savumiamoorthy Thondaman, the founder of the Ceylon Workers Congress. Mr. Arumugam had spearheaded the party after his grandfather’s demise in 1999. He has been a Member of Parliament since 1994. He was to contest as an ally of the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna from the Nuwera Eliya district in the upcoming Parliament elections.
President Rajapaksa and other Ministers expressed grief and conveyed their condolences.
Mr. Thondaman is survived by his wife Raji, 2 daughters and a son.