(UTV | COLOMBO) – Minister Arumugam Thondaman carried forward the mission pioneered by his illustrious grandfather Saumyamurthy Thondaman and worked relentlessly to remove the grievances of the upcountry Tamil community, President Gotabaya Rajapaksa said today in a condolence message.
The message: “I was deeply shocked and saddened to learn about the untimely demise of Arumugam Thondaman, Leader of Ceylon Workers Congress and the Minister of Community Empowerment and Estate Infrastructure Development who served the best interests of the downtrodden plantation workers belonging to all communities.
While Minister Thondaman recognized the imperative need to solve the problems faced by the Tamil community, he steadfastly refused to subscribe to the notion of a Separate State for Tamils in this country despite the heavy pressures exerted by the powerful terrorist organization that existed at that time.
Minister Thondaman continued his grandfather’s endeavour to uplift living standards of the plantation community, which was then considered as stereotyped emaciated labourers. Today the community produces professionals in every field thanks to the struggle commenced by Saumyamurthy and carried forward by Arumugam.