Premakumar Gunaratnam[a] (born 18 November 1965) is a Sri Lankan-Australian politician. He is a former JVP leader and political activist in Sri Lanka who later split from the JVP to form the Frontline Socialist Party in 2012. He has served as the general secretary of the party since its founding.[2]
Premakumar Gunaratnam | |
|---|---|
| பிரேமகுமார் குணரத்னம் ප්රේමකුමාර් ගුණරත්නම් | |
 | |
| General Secretary | |
| Assumed office 9 April 2012 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Premakumar Gunaratnam 18 November 1965[1] Kegalle, Sri Lanka |
| Spouse | Champa Somaratna |
| Children | 2 |
| Occupation | Politician |
Early life
editGunaratnam was born on 18 November 1965 to Aadheemoolam Pillai Gunaratnam from Alaveddy in Jaffna, and Valliamma Rajamany from Kegalle.[3] He was educated in St. Mary's College, Kegalle, and Pinnawala Central College, Rambukkana.[4] He entered the University of Peradeniya Faculty of Engineering and became a student leader within a short while after entering the university.[2] He did not complete his degree; although his profession is stated as an "engineer". He is married to a Sinhalese doctor, Champa Somaratna, an Australian resident.[4]
Political career
editDuring the 1987–1989 JVP insurrection, Gunaratnam functioned as the leader of the Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya (DJV) in Trincomalee, he was also the contact point between the JVP and Tamil Marxist groups. Touted as an explosives expert, he allegedly masterminded the JVP attack on the Pallekele army camp and several other attacks.[2] After the death of Ranjitham, Gunaratnam operated under his brother's name. He was arrested and imprisoned at Bogambara Prison but escaped after tunnelling his way out of prison on 13 December 1988.[4] He subsequently fled the country, reportedly via sea route as the military launched a manhunt.[citation needed]
Split from the JVP
editDespite Gunaratnam's leadership skills, JVP leaders denied the existence of a party member by the name of "Premakumar Gunaratnam". In April 2012, internal tensions within the party heated up between hardline socialist Gunaratnam and party leader Somawansa Amarasinghe. The JVP media unit was shut down as more members began to extend their support to Gunaratnam.[citation needed]
Former JVP politburo member Dimuthu Attygalle, who was the former head of the JVP women's wing and the party leader in several districts, extended his support for Gunaratnam. Another former politburo member, Pubudu Jagoda who was an active member in the youth movement, also declared his support. Several student union leaders such as Duminda Nagamuwa, Udul Premaratne and Chameera Koswatte also sided with Gunaratnam.[5] The same month, Gunaratnam and the dissident group split from the JVP and formed a new Marxist party known as the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP).[6]
Wanted status
editIn April 2012, the Ministry of External Affairs said that Gunaratnam had violated immigration laws and was deported. Police spokesman SP Ajith Rohana said that Gunaratnam was not wanted by the law.[7]
Arrest and release
editGunaratnam was arrested in November 2015 for violating Immigration and Emigration Laws after arriving in the country on a tourist visa. He was released on 2 December 2016 after serving his prison term. He received Sri Lankan citizenship in February 2017 and was directed to remove his Australian citizenship.[8]
Notes
edit- ^ Aliases include: Kumar Mahattaya, Daskon Mudiyanselage Dayalal, Noel Mudalige
References
edit- ^ "PREMAKUMAR GUNARATNAM".
- ^ a b c "Foreign Plots to Topple the Government | the Sunday Leader".
- ^ Jeyaraj, D. B. S. (16 July 2022). "FSP Leader Kumar Gunaratnam and his "Aragalaya"". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 18 July 2022.
- ^ a b c http://www.lakbimanews.lk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3019:premakumar-gunaratnam-jvps-next-flop-or-hope&catid=35:news-features&Itemid=37 [permanent dead link]
- ^ "JVP Organizations Caught In The Internal Crisis | The Sunday Leader". www.thesundayleader.lk. Archived from the original on 15 October 2011. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
- ^ "Sri Lanka : Sri Lanka\'s newly formed Frontline Socialist Party splits prematurely".
- ^ "Gunaratnam not wanted by the law, merely deported – Police | Daily FT". www.ft.lk. Retrieved 24 October 2019.
- ^ "Kumar Gunaratnam gets SL citizenship". www.dailymirror.lk. Retrieved 11 June 2019.