Several women’s organizations in the plantation sector staged a protest at Malliappuwa Junction in Hatton on yesterday (April 18) against a statement made by the State Minister of Estate Infrastructure and Community Empowerment, Jeevan Thondaman, alleging that he had insulted women.

State Minister Jeevan Thondaman recently had uttered an obscene word insulting women at a meeting to raise awareness among party members about the wage increase in Rs 1000
at the Ceylon Workers’ Congress office in Kotagala.

Minister of State Jeevan Thondaman was involved in the protest on social media, claiming that he had intervened to pay the plantation workers a salary of Rs. The women said.

He had claimed that he was intervened to pay the plantation workers a salary of Rs.1000 and none of others involved in the process. But the protesting women claimed that a statement is circulating on social media alleging that he had insulted woman.

The protesting women said that the statement made by Minister of State Jeevan Thondaman should be withdrawn and that all women in this country should unite and protest against that statement. The protest was supported by several youth organisations in the plantation areas and was heavily guarded by the police.