Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake on Monday (31) asserted that Kumar Gunaratnam, the leader of the Frontline Socialist Party, was never a member of the JVP.

 

Particpating in the 'Salakuna' political talk show program aired by Hiru TV, Dissanayake firmly stated that he was not aware of an individual named Kumar Gunaratnam was engaged in political activities with JVP.

 

"There were various stories on media about JVP leaders and members. However most of them are not true. So I can assure that there never was a Kumar Gunratnam in the JVP, "he stressed, answering the questions raised by journalists.

 

Dissanayake insisted that he was not aware of a Kumar Gunaratnam even when he was participating in the activities of the JVP students' union.

 

However during ITN 'Sathyagaraya' program earlier this year Dissanayake had accepted that Kumar Gunaratnam played a certain role within the party. He insisted that Gunaratnam’s brother Ranjitham was a key member of the JVP. Dissanayake refused to reveal more details about Kumar Gunaratnam saying that the party has a 'political responsibility' on such topics. 

 

However, according to many other accounts, Kumar Gunaratnam was the Trincomalee District leader of the JVP during the 1987-89 insurgency. During 1988-89, Gunaratnam functioned as the Trincomalee leader of Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya (DJV), effectively the JVP armed wing. He allegedly masterminded the JVP attack on the Pallekele army camp and IPKF camp at Kallar.

 

Gunaratnam’s team was known as the only JVP team which had attacked the IPKF.

 

He broke away with a faction of JVP members in 2011. Later they formed new Marxist party named Frontline Socialist Party (FLSP). Gunaratnam left for Australia afterwards and returned on January 01, 2015 during the presidential election on tourist visa. His current whereabouts are kept a secret. However, the FLSP insists that he remains in the country.

 

However not only Dissanayake, but many JVP leaders have previously denied the existence of a party member named "Premakumar Gunaratnam"