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Jeevan Thondaman

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Jeevan Kumaravel Thondaman (Tamil: ஜீவன் குமாரவேல் தொண்டமான்; born 9 November 1994) is a Sri Lankan politician, Member of Parliament and former Cabinet minister.[1]

Hon.
Jeevan Thondaman
MP
ஜீவன் தொண்டமான்
ජීවන් තොණ්ඩමන්
Minister of Water Supply and Estate Infrastructure
In office
19 January 2023 – 23 September 2024
PresidentRanil Wickremesinghe
Prime MinisterDinesh Gunawardena
Preceded byKeheliya Rambukwella
Succeeded byVijitha Herath
Minister of State for Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure
In office
12 August 2020 – 3 April 2022
PresidentGotabaya Rajapaksa
Prime MinisterMahinda Rajapaksa
Member of the Parliament of Sri Lanka
Incumbent
Assumed office
20 August 2020
ConstituencyNuwara Eliya District
Personal details
Born (1994-11-09) 9 November 1994 (age 30)
Political partyCeylon Workers' Congress
Other political
affiliations		Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance
RelationsSenthil Thondaman(Cousin)
Alma materNorthumbria University

Early life and education

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Thondaman was born on 9 November 1994 into a prominent political family.[1][2] He is the son of Arumugam Thondaman and the great-grandson of Savumiamoorthy Thondaman, both of whom were leaders of the Ceylon Workers' Congress (CWC) and government ministers. [3] He was educated at Gateway Primary School, Colombo; Lady Andal, Chennai and Chinmaya International Residential School, Coimbatore.[2] Thondaman later pursued higher education at Northumbria University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree in 2017.[2][4]

Political career

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After completing his education, Thondaman initially interned at a law firm in London before returning to Sri Lanka to assist his father in political and trade union work.[2] He then returned to Sri Lanka to assist his father in his political and trade union work.[2] In December 2017 a court order was issued to arrest him in connection with an assault on a National Union of Workers supporter at a funeral in Maskeliya.[5][6]

In June 2020, following the death of his father, Thondaman was appointed general secretary of the CWC.[7][8] At the funeral of his father, Arumugam Thondaman, in 2020, Thondaman faced criticism for allegedly using the funeral procession as a political campaign, violating election and quarantine laws during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Centre for Monitoring Election Violence (CMEV) accused him of parading through multiple electorates in an open vehicle, while election authorities remained silent. The five-day funeral, which drew large crowds, was condemned by professional bodies like the GMOA, which warned of a potential second wave of COVID-19, and the Public Health Inspectors' Union, which threatened legal action if the event caused a new infection cluster.[9]

He contested the 2020 parliamentary election as a Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance candidate in the Nuwara Eliya District and was successfully elected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka.[10][11][12][13] After the 2020 election, he was appointed State Minister of Estate Housing and Community Infrastructure,[14][15][16] becoming the Sri Lanka's youngest-ever Cabinet Minister.[17]

During the 2024 national Thai Pongal celebrations in Hatton, Thondaman faced criticism for inviting prominent South Indian actresses, including Aishwarya Rajesh and Samyuktha Menon,[18][19][20] amid national austerity measures. Political opponents, such as Letchumanar Sanjay from the SJB, deemed the lavish event inappropriate given local economic hardships, including student dropouts and food insecurity, and questioned the use of taxpayer funds.[21][22] Thondaman defended his actions, emphasizing the festival's cultural significance and the potential economic benefits of attracting tourism through celebrity participation.[23]

In May 2024, Thondaman became embroiled in a legal controversy involving the Pedro Tea Factory, owned by Kelani Valley Plantations PLC, after allegedly entering the facility with supporters, threatening management, and detaining the CEO to demand the reinstatement of suspended workers.[24][25] The Nuwara Eliya Magistrate's Court issued an arrest order,[26][27] but when Thondaman surrendered on July 29, 2024, the court refrained from arresting him due to incomplete investigations.[28][29][30] The Planters' Association strongly condemned his actions, calling for accountability in the plantation sector.[31]

In November 2024 he was reelected to the Parliament of Sri Lanka after contesting the 2024 parliamentary election as a United National Party candidate in Nuwara Eliya District.

Electoral history of Jeevan Thondaman
Election Constituency Party Alliance Votes Result
2020 parliamentary[11] Nuwara Eliya District Ceylon Workers' Congress Sri Lanka People's Freedom Alliance 109,155 Elected
2024 parliamentary Nuwara Eliya District Ceylon Workers' Congress United National Party 46,438 Elected

International recognition

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In April 2024, Thondaman was recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. He was the first Sri Lankan Minister to receive this honour, which acknowledges his work in improving access to clean water and advocating for social justice.[32][33][34] The recognition highlighted his initiatives to improve living conditions for marginalized communities and his innovative approach to leadership in the water sector.

Thondaman emphasised that the recognition was a testament to the resilience of the Sri Lankan people and expressed his commitment to using the platform to foster international collaboration and promote entrepreneurship among Sri Lankan youth.[35]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Directory of Members: Jeevan Thondaman". Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte, Sri Lanka: Parliament of Sri Lanka. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (18 July 2020). "CWC, Jeevan Thondaman and Nuwara- Eliya Tamils". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  3. ^ Padmasiri, Ranjith (9 August 2020). "Politics runs in their blood". The Sunday Times. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  4. ^ Ramiah Mohan, Sulochana (6 June 2020). "My father was not a saviour, but a strong leader - Jeevan Thondaman". Ceylon Today. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Archived from the original on 15 July 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  5. ^ Rajapakse, Ranjith (12 December 2017). "Alleged attack on NUW supporter: Court orders arrest of Thondaman's son". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  6. ^ "Court orders to arrest Thondaman's son". Hiru News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 11 December 2017. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  7. ^ "Jeevan Thondaman appointed as CWC's General Secretary". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 17 June 2020. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  8. ^ Rajapaksa, Ranjith (17 June 2020). "Jeevan Thondaman appointed as General Secretary of CWC". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  9. ^ Ranasinghe, Imesh. "Uproar over crowds at Thondaman's funeral and Jeevan's behaviour". economynext.com. Economy Next. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  10. ^ "Part I : Section (I) — General - Government Notifications - Parliamentary Elections Act, No. 1 of 1981" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. No. 2187/26. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 8 August 2020. p. 4A. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  11. ^ a b "General Election 2020: Preferential votes of Nuwara Eliya District". Ceylon Today. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 7 August 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  12. ^ Parasuraman, Lakshme (9 August 2020). "Over 60 new faces in Parliament". Sunday Observer. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  13. ^ Srinivasan, Meera (8 August 2020). "An alliance of Malayaha Tamil MPs that stood out". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 9 August 2020.
  14. ^ "Part I : Section (I) — General - Government Notifications - Appointments & C., by the President" (PDF). The Gazette of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka Extraordinary. No. 2188/43. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 13 August 2020. p. 3A. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  15. ^ Bandara, Kelum (13 August 2020). "newly sworn Cabinet: New MPs receive more executive authority in new government". The Daily Mirror. Colombo, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  16. ^ "New Cabinet sworn in". Daily News. Colombo, Sri Lanka. 12 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2020.
  17. ^ Jayaraj, D. B. S. "Jeevan sets a record as Lanka's youngest-ever Cabinet Minister". dailymirror.lk. DailyMirror. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
  18. ^ Today, Ceylon (22 January 2024). "S Indian actresses celebrate Thai Pongal in Hatton". Ceylon Today. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  19. ^ "Prominent South Indian actresses attend Thai Pongal event in Sri Lanka". Newswire. 22 January 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  20. ^ Werasinghe, N. H. L. (23 January 2024). "Whose money is Thondaman devouring for Indian girls?". LankaTruth English. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  21. ^ Rajapaksa, Ranjith. "Jeevan Thondaman under fire for inviting South Indian actresses amidst austerity, hardship". dailymirror.lk. DailyMirror. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  22. ^ "South Indian actresses in SL". themorning.lk. the morning. 28 January 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ^ "Thondaman Defends Thaipongal Festival Amidst Controversy Over South Indian Actresses, Emphasizing Cultural Enrichment and Tourism Promotion". asianmirror.lk. AsianMirror. 24 January 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  24. ^ Lankasara News (30 May 2024). "Minister Thondaman takes Kelani Valley Plantations CEO hostage". lankasara.com. Lankasara. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  25. ^ Warakapitiya, Kasun (16 June 2024). "Planters call Jeevan Thondaman to account for running amok". Print Edition - The Sunday Times, Sri Lanka. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  26. ^ "Jeewan Thondaman to be arrested - Breaking News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. DailyMirror. 22 July 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  27. ^ "Court orders arrest of Minister Jeevan Thondaman". www.adaderana.lk. AdaDerana. 22 July 2024.
  28. ^ "Hostage Drama in Tea Factory: Jeevan Thondaman and CWC leaders appear before Nuwara Eliya Magistrate - News | Daily Mirror". www.dailymirror.lk. DailyMirror. 30 July 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  29. ^ Rajapakse, Ranjith (23 July 2024). "Jeevan Thondaman the non-law-abiding lawmaker". dailymirror.lk. DailyMirror. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  30. ^ "Minister Jeevan Thondaman surrenders to court". adaderana.lk. Adaderana. 29 July 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  31. ^ "Planters' Association condemns Thondaman's illegal actions at Pedro Estate, calls for justice". dailymirror.lk. DailyMirror. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 December 2024.
  32. ^ Andrew, Melkishiya (5 April 2024). "Minister Jeevan Thondaman named Young Global Leader by World Economic Forum". The Morning. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  33. ^ "Minister Jeevan Thondaman Selected as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum". waterboard.lk. National Water Supply and Drainage Board. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  34. ^ "Jeevan Thondaman among World Economic Forum's Young Global Leaders Class of 2024". DailyFT. 6 April 2024. Retrieved 11 December 2024.
  35. ^ "Jeevan becomes first Sri Lankan Minister to be recognised as a Young Global Leader". newswire.lk. Newswire. Retrieved 9 December 2024.
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