MANO PELTED WITH STONES IN KOTAGALA

April 21, 2013 
Democratic People’s Front (DPF) leader, Mano Ganesan and his supporters were attacked with stones during a protest in Kotagala this morning demanding a wage hike for plantation workers.

The Up Country Trade Union Alliance (UTUA) had staged a protest in the Kotagala Town demanding a wage increase of Rs 520 per estate worker.

However, a group suspected to be supporters of the Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) pelted stones at us during the protest, Mr Ganesan told Ada Derana.

He stated that one of the stones was directed at his head but he was able to block it with his hand, which was injured by the stone. Ganesan said he had received treatment at the Kotagala Hospital afterwards.

Mano Ganesan, President of the Democratic Workers’ Congress (DWS), a constituent of the UTUA, claimed that a large number of workers who had arrived from Hatton and Thalawakele were obstructed and prevented from taking part in the protest by police and CWC supporters.

He stated that this had hindered the planned protest, which will be staged at the Dimbulapathana Junction instead.