K. Velayudam, trade unionist-cum-politician and former State Minister for Plantation Industries, died in a private hospital here on Tuesday evening.
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He was 65. The former Minister, a leader representing Tamils of Indian origin, is survived by his wife and four sons, according to an official of the leader’s office.
Hailing from Badulla in Uva Province, Mr Velayudam began his public career in the early 1970s as a member of the Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union (LJEWU), a trade union representing tea, rubber and other plantation workers. At the time of death, he was general secretary of the LJEWU, affiliated to the United National Party (UNP), and president of the National Trade Union Federation (NTUF), of which the LJEWU is a member.
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Between 2001 and 2004, he was Member of Parliament and in August 2014, he re-entered the House. He was a member of the Uva Provincial Council.
After Maithripala Sirisena became President and Ranil Wickremesinghe was appointed Prime Minister in January, Mr Velayudam was made the State Minister. He held the post for seven months.
He was not fielded in the August parliamentary polls and though he was originally nominated by the UNP for the national list for the Parliament, he did not make it, causing disappointment among his supporters.
Velayudam began his public career in the early 1970s as a member of Lanka Jathika Estate Workers Union