Ceylon Workers Congress (CMC) Leader and Minister Arumugam Thondaman has passed away a short while ago after being admitted to the Thalangama base hospital. The former Cabinet Minister of Livestock and Rural Community Development had reportedly died of a heart attack. Earlier in the day, Thondaman had met the newly appointed Indian High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Gopal Baglay. The two discussed bilateral cooperation for community development including the ongoing Indian Housing Project for estate workers. Thondaman is the grandson of prominent unionist Saumyamoorthi Thondaman.