COLOMBO: A Sri Lankan political party representing Indian-origin plantation workers has accused a minister of attempting to prevent its supporters from meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the country this week.
The Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC), the largest trade union-cum political party, said that Minister of Hill Country, New Villages, Infrastructure and Community Development Palani Digambaran prevented its workers from inspecting a site where Modi would hold a public meeting.
"The Indian High Commission in Colombo invited the CWC to attend a public meeting at Norwood grounds with Mr Modi. Minister Digambaram prevented us from entering to inspect the site yesterday," CWC Central Provincial Council member Kanapathy Kanagaraj said.
Kanagaraj said nearly 30,000 CWC supporters are scheduled to attend the public meeting on Friday in the Central Province. He said Digambaram prevented the CWC from entering the Norwood grounds saying the CWC will not be allowed to attend Friday's meeting.
A police complaint has been filed against the Minister. Digambaran is the leader of the National Union of Workers (NUW), a member of the Tamil Progressive Alliance (TPA) and United National Front for Good Governance (UNFGG).
Prime Minister Modi on May 12 will inaugurate a well- equipped hospital in the central hill area of Dickoya built with the Indian assistance. He will later address a public rally at the Norwood grounds.