He was still absconding by yesterday evening

• He is to be arrested for non-appearance in court over forceful entry into a tea factory

By Ranjith Rajapakse

Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Minister and General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers’ Congress Jeevan Thondaman and several others are to be arrested for entry by force into the Pedro Tea factory of Kelani Valley Plantations on May 30, 2024. 

Nuwara Eliya Acting Magistrate Jayamini Ambagahawatta, in response to the report submitted yesterday by the Nuwara Eliya Police ordered the arrest of the minister and the others involved.

Lawyers appearing for the Kelani Valley Plantations told court that the police had informed the minister to appear in court yesterday, but he failed to do so.

President’s Counsel Anura Meddegoda, Attorneys at Law Palitha Subesinghe and Suresh Gayan appeared for the estate company.   

However, he had not been arrested by the time this edition went to press yesterday.