Plantation Sector Tamil Leader - Minister Chandrasekaran Passes Away

Upcountry People’s Front Leader and Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication Minister Minister P. Chandrasekeran passed away this morning, following a brief illness, at a private hospital in Colombo.

Minister Chandrasekeran was 52 years old at the time of his sudden demise and the hospital sources confirmed that a cardiac failure was the reason for his death.

Late Chandrasekeran entered active politics through the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and later formed his own party; Up-Country People’s Front (UPF). He was working for the plantation sector Tamils joining with the People’s Alliance, and later with United National Front and Freedom Alliance governments.

Minister Chandrasekeran had extended his party’s fullest support to the candidature of President Mahinda Rajapaksa at the upcoming presidential election. His party which represents the Indian origin plantation Tamil population in Sri Lanka had concluded discussions with the President and Senior Presidential Advisor and Parliamentarian Basil Rajapaksa and had also vowed that he is convinced and satisfied with the government' development programs.

At the last legislative elections in 2004, his party secured 0.5% of the popular vote and 2 out of 225 seats.

A party spokesm said that the funeral of the late minister will take place at the Thalawakele Urban Council grounds on January 04, Monday.

According to the UPF Party sources, Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF) member S.Arulsamy will fill the vacancy created by the demise of UPF leader as he is the next in the party list.

- Asian Tribune -