Several roads within the Hatton town are blocked due to protests that have been launched by the Ceylon Workers’ Congress (CWC) due to the government’s decision to change the name of the Thondaman vocational training centre.  

Members of the CWC together with several Central Province Provincial Councilors staged protests before the Hatton clock tower at 10.30am this morning causing severe traffic congestions within the city. 

It has been reported that the protests were staged in retaliation against the government’s decision to rename the Hatton Thondaman vocational training centre as the Poolbank vocational training centre. 

The Thondaman Vocational Training Centre was established to realize the long felt need of Vocational Training for the Plantation youth in Tamil medium at a time the youth didn’t have the opportunity for access to Vocational Training in Tamil medium in the Plantation areas by Savumiamoorthi Thondaman through aid provided by the Canadian government.   
 
Speaking to an Ada Derana correspondent earlier today, a Central Province PC member S. Sakthivel stated that no regime can change the title of certain buildings that were constructed and named as a result of the hard work of politicians of the past. 

He further stated that Minister Palany Thigambaran has no authority to change the name of a building that was constructed before he received his ministerial portfolio. 

Central PC member S. Sakthivel further stated that the CWC will continue their protests until the Norwwod Thondaman football stadium which was recently renamed restores its original name.  

Police officials have advised all motorists to bypass the surrounding area to avoid the buildup of further traffic.