Few weeks ago, Daily Mirror Online published a news video on their Digital and Social Media platforms highlighting the plight of people from certain rural areas of the Kandy district. These individuals were direly affected by the lack of essential food items owing to imposed travel restrictions. In response, the State Minister of Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure and the General Secretary of the Ceylon Workers Congress, Hon. Jeevan Thondaman made arrangements immediately to provide parcels of dry rations worth Rs. Four million, which were distributed amongst the affected families, through Barath Arullsamy, Assistant Secretary of the Ceylon Workers Congress and the Director of  the Prajashakthi Development Project of the State Ministry of Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure. 

During distribution of relief aid, Barath Arullsamy stated that the Minister Jeevan Thondaman conveyed his gratitude to the Daily Mirror newspaper, for bringing to his attention to the difficulties faced by people and also emphasized that, as a young Minister with a portfolio that encompasses community empowerment, he is determined to identify the needs of people and deliver his best accordingly to ensure community wellbeing. 

According to Arullsamy, arrangements had been made to deliver goods to the areas of Ambakotte, Aluthwatte, Ranagala, Kengalle, Panwilla, Kellabokka, Delthotta, Galaha and Nawalapitiya. Arullsamy expressed his gratitude toward Minister Hon. Jeevan Thondaman on behalf of the people of Kandy for allocating relief aid generously to the people in need, not only in Nuwara Eliya but also in Kandy, Rathnapura and other districts, while also thanking Daily Mirror for publishing the news video.

“We have taken the initiative to uplift living standards in the plantations and rural sector, through the Ministry as well as through the Prajashakthi Development Project. Our prime focus is to build a self-employment based economy in the plantation sector. We are in the process of creating awareness and improving market opportunities for those who aspire to engage in self-employment. It is also vital to help them to continue their day to day life as smoothly as possible which is why Minister Thondaman and I took this effort to provide relief to those in need,” said Barath Arullsamy.