National Freedom Front Spokesman Mohomad Muzammil made a serious allegation yesterday, claiming that the government was blackmailing JVP leader Anura Dissanayakaye by threatening to reveal details of his clandestine trip to Ireland earlier this year.

He made this claim yesterday to the media after appearing before police FCID to give a statement.

Muzammil said that there were serious issues pertaining to the expenses of Dissanayake's trip to Ireland. Furthermore, the government was aware of the details of the trip including the women he met in Ireland. These details are now being used to blackmail Dissanayake into justifying the hunting of the Joint Opposition MPs, Muzammil said. Effectively the JVP leader is carrying out the government's contract, he added.

The JVP leader disappeared from the political arena for a few weeks prior to the May Day rally and it was later revealed that he had been overseas. There were many speculations on his trip in political circles. A newspaper feature published in Divaina newspaper made startling claims about Dissanayake's trip which prompted the JVP leadership to hit back at the newspaper in very strong terms.