The Thondamans are closely intertwined with the hearts of people in the plantation sector. Arumugam Thondaman, following the footsteps of his grandfather Samuyamurthi Thondaman was committed for the service of people in the plantation sector, Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapaksa said.
The Prime Minister was speaking at the funeral of late Minister Arumugam Thondaman at the Thondaman ground in Norwood yesterday.
He recollected how the late Thondaman met him a few hours before his death with his son.
“He was talking with me about how the living condition of plantation workers should be uplifted at the last meeting, he had with me,” the Prime Minister said.
He said the late leader wanted to give relief to the people in the plantation sector who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The late Arumugam Thondaman requested us to ensure that the plantation employees receive a daily wage of Rs.1000 and development of all plantation schools during the last meeting with me, he said.
The Prime Minister added that the Cabinet of Ministers discussed the requests made by the late Minister following day itself.
The Prime Minister added that Thondamans have never incited racism to achieve their political objectives. He said that Indian Prime Minister phoned him and expressed his condolence over the death of Minister Arumugam Thondaman. “A number of foreign leaders phoned me and expressed their condolence over his death,” the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said the late Arumugam Thondaman joined him in 2005 to make the aspirations of people in the plantation sector a reality. “He made a tremendous contribution for the uplift of the living condition of people in the plantation sector,” he said
Central Province Governor Lalith U. Gamage read the condolence message. The President in his message said late 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, 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 pressure exerted by the powerful terrorist organization that existed at that time.