Minister Chandrasekaran
Mr. Chandrasekaran first entered parliament while serving a prison sentence
The leader of the Upcountry Peoples Front (UPF), Cabinet Minister P Chandrasekaran, has passed away in Colombo after a brief illness.

The late minister suffered a cardiac problem, the government information department website said.

The trade union leader of Sri Lankan Tamils of Indian origin entered politics through Ceylon Workers Congress (CWC) and later formed his own party.

Mr. Chandrasekaran first entered the parliament while being detained under anti-terrorisim regulations.

The funeral will be held on Monday in Thalawakele, central Sri Lanka, deputy Minister P Radhakrishnan told BBC Sandeshaya.

Minister Radhakrishnan said the party would support President Rajapaksa at the forthcoming elections.

Both CWC and UPF that contested the last parliamentary elections together with the main opposition United National Party (UNP) joined Mahinda Rajapaksa administration in August 2006.