The Chief Executive Officer of Kelani Valley Plantation Company, Mr. Anura Weerakoon, who was shocked by the severe threat of Water Supply and Plantation Infrastructure Minister Jeevan Thondaman, has been hospitalized family sources said.
Sources told Lankasara that the minister and his group who stormed into his office in Pedro Estate, Nuwara Eliya last Thursday, were taken to the hospital due to the threat they made to him. Several videos were circulated on social media showing how the minister and mobs behaved after the two suspended plantation workers were pressured to resume work and forcing them to increase the wages of plantation workers.
In a video, the Minister appeared to storm into the estate office with several individuals.
It is reported that the estate workers, led by the Minister, have held several individuals hostage.
Following the involvement of the Minister, the police reportedly failed to take necessary actions.
The tense situation arose after two workers were temporarily suspended for refusing instructions given to the plantation workers to remove several tea bushes to replace coffee plants, based on a decision taken by the Plantation Management Authority.
The minister again protested in front of the Nuwara Eliya police last Saturday forcing them to withdraw the complaint made by the company.
The minister had threatened that the products of Kelani Valley Plantation Company would not be allowed to be presented at the Colombo Tea Auction.
