Death of Minister P. Chandrasekeran
M.P. Muttiah
Upcountry People’s Front leader and Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication Minister Periyasamy Chandrasekeran passed away after a brief illness at a private hospital yesterday morning.
Born in April 16, 1957 at Talawakelle he had his early education at St. Patrick’s College, Talawakelle and Highlands College, Hatton.
He lost his father at the age of 18 and had to discontinue his education to support his mother and six sisters.
He joined the Ceylon Workers’ Congress and served as the Talawakelle District Organizer and later as the Vice President of the CWC in 1977.
He also led the youth wing of the CWC. His contribution was immense for the victory of late S. Thondaman in the Nuwara Eliya District at the General Elections in 1977 and thus helped to elect an Up-country Tamil member to Parliament after 30 years.
His fight against communal elements in the Nuwara Eliya District won the confidence of the youth.
He left the CWC in 1989 and formed the Upcountry People’s Front. He contested Nuwara Eliya-Maskeliya seat in the same year and won.
Chandrasekeran served as a Member of the Lindula Urban Council and District Development Council.
He was arrested by the police on three occasions. He was elected to Central Provincial Council in 1993 while in detention.
Chandrasekeran was elected as a Member of Parliament in 1994, and his only vote helped then Prime Minister Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to form the People’s Alliance Government. He was elected as an MP thrice from 1994 to 2007.
The late UPF leader had served as the Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce in 1994. He was appointed as the Deputy Minister for Estate Housing till 1999. He served as the Estate Infrastructure Minister in 2001 and later as the Minister of Community Development and Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Water Management.
Chandrasekeran was appointed as the Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication Minister in 2006 and held the portfolio until his death.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has appointed Minister Dinesh Gunawardena to be in charge of funeral arrangements.
dailynews.lk
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Minister’s funeral on Monday...04.01.2010
The remains of the late Minister of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication, Periyasamy Chandrasekaran will lie at his residence, Hemachandra Mawatha, Talawakelle today and tomorrow for the public to pay their last respects.
Yesterday his remains lay at the parliament complex for President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Ministers, MPs and parliament staff to pay their last respects. From 1.00 pm to 3.00 pm on Monday members of his family will be participating in Hindu religious rites and a state funeral will be held at 4.00pm at the Talawakelle U.C Grounds.
Born in Talawakelle on April 16, 1957, Minister Chandrasekaran was educated at Highlands College in Hatton. He was invited by CWC leader the late S. Thondaman to join his party, the ‘Ceylon Workers Congress’. He was elected vice president of the party in 1977.
He contributed extensively to the victory of the late Mr. S. Thondaman at the 1977 general election representing the Nuwara Eliya District . Upcountry Tamils were not represented in parliament for a period of 30 years as a result of the disenfranchisement of Tamils of Indian Origin in 1948.
The late Mr. Chandrasekaran was a member of the Talwakelle, Lindula Urban Council, a member of District Development Council, an MP elected thrice from the Nuwara Eliya district between 1994 to 2007, Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce in 1994, Deputy Minister of Estate Housing from 1994 to 1999, Minister of Estate and Infrastructure during 2001, Minister of Community Development and Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Water Management between 2001 to 2004 and Minister of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication from 2006 until the time of his death.
In 1994 it was his support in Parliament which helped then President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to form the People’s Alliance Government. Among his achievements was his election as a Provincial Councillor while being detained by the police in 1993. He fought against communal elements in the Nuwara Eliya district in 1986 which gave confidence to the youth in the plantations.
In 1989 he left the CWC and formed the Up Country People’s Front.
Minister Chandrasekaran at the time of his death was the President of the Upcountry People’s Front a leading political party among Tamils of Indian origin in the country. He was also a Cabinet Minister holding the portfolio of Minister of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication under the present administration.
Through his Ministry of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication, he implemented programmes and projects to uplift the standard of living among the disadvantaged plantation community.
sundaytimes.lk
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Autopsy reveals Minister Chandrasekaran died of alcoholic cirrhosis................By Jayantha de Silva
Minister of Community Development and Social Inequality Eradication Periyasamy Chandrasekaran (53) died of alcoholic cirrhosis, an inquest was told on Friday.
Doctors in the United Kingdom had recommended a liver transplant, it was revealed.
Giving evidence at the inquest held by City Coroner Edward Ahangama, the wife of the deceased, Shanthini Devi Chandrasekaran (51) said that she was married to him for two decades and had two children, aged 19 years and 15 years, respectively. They are still students.
She said that her husband was a diabetic but was in the habit of consuming whisky. He was suffering from several alcoholic-related illnesses and he underwent treatment at the Northwick Park & St. Marks Hospital UK at one time.
He was treated by Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr. Mexton C. L. Pitcher who recommended a liver transplant after a 4-6 months rest period. He was advised to stop consuming liquor but was unable to heed the doctor’s advice.
Records showed that the fee was 200 Sterling Pounds for half an hour consultation.
She said they resided in Meda Welikada Road, Rajagiriya. On January 1, 2010, her husband went to bed around 2.30 am. He slept alone. Witness called his name but there was no response. Later, he was admitted to the Nawaloka Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on admission.
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