Periyasamy Chandrasekaran

April 16, 1957 (age 52)

Talawakelle in central Ceylon

Chandrasekaran was married Shanthini Devi. They had two daughters. Chandrasekaran became interested in politics at a young age and wrote articles in Tamil newspapers. He joined the Ceylon Workers" Congress (CWC), becoming its vice-president in 1977. He was elected to the Talawakele Lindula Urban Council in 1982, Nuwara Eliya District Development Council in 1985 and Nuwara Eliya Divisional Council in 1987. He was arrested in 1990. The draconian Prevention of Terrorism Acting was used to arrest him 1993. He was elected to the Central Provincial Council whilst in custody. Chandrasekaran was one of the UCPF"s candidates for Nuwara Eliya District at the 1994 parliamentary election. He was elected and entered Parliament. He was re-elected at the 2000, 2001 and 2004 parliamentary elections. After being elected to Parliament in 1994 he supported the new People"s Alliance government. He held several ministerial appointments thereafter: Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce (1994). Deputy Minister of Estate Housing (1994-1999). Project Minister of Estate Infrastructure (2001). Minister of Community Development. Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Water Management (2001-2004). And Minister of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication (2007-2010). Chandrasekaran was a diabetic but drank whiskey which resulted in him suffering alcohol-related illnesses. He was receiving treatment from Northwick Park Hospital and Saint Mark"s Hospital in the United Kingdom. Doctors had recommended that he stops drinking and after 4-6 months undergo liver transplant. Chandrasekaran, who was at his home in Rajagiriya, failed to wake up on the morning of 1 January 2010. He was taken to the private Nawaloka Hospital where he was pronounced dead on admission. An autopsy revealed he had died of alcoholic cirrhosis.

Periyasamy Chandrasekaran

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politician

Background

Chandrasekaran was born on 17 April 1957 in Talawakelle in central Ceylon. Following the death of his father he gave up his education to support his family.

Education

He was educated at Sumana Demala Maha Vidyalayam, Talawakelle, Saint Patrick"s Vidyalayam, Talawakelle and Highlands College, Hatton.

Career

Chandrasekaran was married Shanthini Devi. They had two daughters. Chandrasekaran became interested in politics at a young age and wrote articles in Tamil newspapers.

He joined the Ceylon Workers" Congress (CWC), becoming its vice-president in 1977.

He was elected to the Talawakele Lindula Urban Council in 1982, Nuwara Eliya District Development Council in 1985 and Nuwara Eliya Divisional Council in 1987. He was arrested in 1990.

The draconian Prevention of Terrorism Acting was used to arrest him 1993. He was elected to the Central Provincial Council whilst in custody.

Chandrasekaran was one of the UCPF"s candidates for Nuwara Eliya District at the 1994 parliamentary election.

He was elected and entered Parliament. He was re-elected at the 2000, 2001 and 2004 parliamentary elections. After being elected to Parliament in 1994 he supported the new People"s Alliance government.

He held several ministerial appointments thereafter: Deputy Minister of Trade and Commerce (1994).

Deputy Minister of Estate Housing (1994-1999). Project Minister of Estate Infrastructure (2001).

Minister of Community Development. Deputy Minister of Irrigation and Water Management (2001-2004).

And Minister of Community Development and Social Inequity Eradication (2007-2010).

Chandrasekaran was a diabetic but drank whiskey which resulted in him suffering alcohol-related illnesses. He was receiving treatment from Northwick Park Hospital and Saint Mark"s Hospital in the United Kingdom. Doctors had recommended that he stops drinking and after 4-6 months undergo liver transplant. Chandrasekaran, who was at his home in Rajagiriya, failed to wake up on the morning of 1 January 2010.

He was taken to the private Nawaloka Hospital where he was pronounced dead on admission.

An autopsy revealed he had died of alcoholic cirrhosis.

Achievements

Chandrasekaran was one of the Democratic People"s Liberation Front"s (DPLF) candidates in Nuwara Eliya District at the 1989 parliamentary election but the DPLF failed to win any seats in Parliament.

Politics

He left the CWC in 1989 and formed the Up-Country People"s Front (UCPF).

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