Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure Development Jeevan Thondaman reportedly stormed into the head office of the Nuwara Eliya Pedro Estate, belonging to the Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, and took the CEO Anura Weerakoon hostage, disrupting tea production.
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.
In connection with this, during an investigation held today at the Nuwara Eliya Labour Office, the estate management refused to reinstate these workers.
The situation has escalated following the involvement of the Minister.
The Minister has reportedly threatened to prevent the tea produced by the company from being sent to the Colombo tea auction. Also, he has threatened to increase estate workers daily wages to 1700 Rupees ,
