SLFP Gen. Sec. says deeply saddened by Thondaman’s demise

 General Secretary of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) Dayasiri Jayasekara said yesterday he is deeply saddened to hear about the sudden death of Ceylon Workers’ Congress Leader and former Minister Arumugam Thondaman, saying his demise is a loss to the entire country.

“His demise is an unfortunate event faced by all of us, including all progressive people in the country. The Tamil community in the estate sector has lost a caring leader, and we, who represent Parliament, have lost a good colleague,” Jayasekera said in a message of condolence.

He said Thondaman, who was elected to Parliament for the first time in the 1994 General Election, worked together with progressive groups, including the Sri Lanka Freedom Party.

“He was a Member of Parliament during the past 26 years and was always a good friend to all of us. I believe the best way to pay respect to him is to give the estate sector Tamil community the life he wanted to give them,” the message said.