Fri, 29 Mar 2024 Today's Paper

Australia presses SL on missing activist

9 April 2012 06:43 am - 31     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

A A A

Canberra said it was seeking "urgent clarification" Monday on the fate of an Australian man reported by his family and political party to have been abducted in Sri Lanka over his activism.

Joint Sri Lankan-Australian citizen Premakumar Gunaratnam, 42, went missing on Friday from Kiribathgoda, north of Colombo, where he was preparing to launch a new political party, according to his family and fellow activists.

Gunaratnam is the leader of a breakaway faction of the JVP, or People's Liberation Front. The JVP led two failed bids to violently overthrow governments in 1971 and 1987 in campaigns that left up to 100,000 people dead.

His radical splinter group, the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), claimed that Gunaratnam and women's wing leader Dimuthu Attygalle had been taken away by security authorities ahead of the party's formal launch due on Monday.

Australia's foreign office said it had received reports that Gunaratnam "may have been abducted."

"We are seeking urgent clarification on the situation from the Sri Lankan authorities," a foreign office spokeswoman told AFP.

Gunaratnam's wife, Champa Somaratna, said her husband was an ethnic Tamil but was not affiliated with the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, defeated by Sri Lankan forces in 2009, ending a decades-long civil war that left up to 100,000 killed, according to UN estimates.

That JVP uprisings were unrelated to the civil war.

"He was arrested early in the morning. About 25 armed people entered the house. They threatened the neighbours and asked them to switch off the lights and close the windows and doors," Somaratna told Australia's ABC radio.

"Then they abducted him -- there is evidence about that inside the house."

Somaratna said her husband was launching the FSP "because of the unlawful abductions and the human rights violations in Sri Lanka" and his role as the party's main political activist had "a real connection" with his disappearance.

The FSP has blamed the "state and the government" for Gunaratnam's disappearance but police say he is not in their custody and Colombo has denied any involvement.

The Hong Kong-based Asian Human Rights Commission on Sunday expressed concern for his safety and said it was "no secret that the government and the ministry of defence are concerned" about FSP's activities.

Rights groups have reported dozens of abductions since the end of the island's civil war in 2009, but at least some of the incidents appear to have been private disputes or underworld activities. (AFP)



Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

  Comments - 31

Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka
  • NE Monday, 09 April 2012 08:54 AM

    Honestly I also like to know whether an Australian citizen can form a political party in SL while on a visitors VISA?

    dinesh withanage Tuesday, 10 April 2012 05:40 AM

    he appeared in another name is wrong

    Joseph Tuesday, 10 April 2012 01:52 AM

    It has now been revealed ( 10th April 2012) that the missing Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) leader, Premkumar Gunaratnam, used an Australian passport (N 1016123) bearing the name, Noel Mudalige, to return to Sri Lanka last September. Aussy government knew of this frudamental passport and given the number to SL government after SL government found no Premkumar Gunaratnam has come to SL.

    Joseph Tuesday, 10 April 2012 01:46 AM

    Good one.... I totally agree. We never knew about this party till this complain came through...

    Joseph Tuesday, 10 April 2012 01:44 AM

    When did he come to Sri Lanka from Australia ? Can all of you tell me. Did he ever come here ?

    Alert Monday, 09 April 2012 11:49 PM

    I don't think that this is an act of the government, or any other political party. This could be a well organized program of their party itself to gain a very good initial publicity locally and internationally. They have already achieved it.
    I am sure Kumar Gunarathnum and Dimuthu Artigala will comeback to their political arena soon.

    J.Voet Monday, 09 April 2012 03:34 PM

    Its a very valid argument in a court of law!

    Sanjaya Monday, 09 April 2012 11:50 AM

    Two persons are missing in the latest wave of abductions. They may have different political ideology to those in power. However, right to life should not be denied because of that. Dual citizens have rights even when they are not part of the ruling party.

    cholan Monday, 09 April 2012 11:21 AM

    This trend will continue

    Ranjith Monday, 09 April 2012 10:55 AM

    Same poor people elected those few individual. So who should be punished?

    hasthi Monday, 09 April 2012 10:06 AM

    Oh my God... let her be... otherwise they will complain she also vanished..

    sures rakawa Monday, 09 April 2012 09:59 AM

    It dosn,t matter Australian or Sri Lankan this could happen to you and me so get up!

    what the fish Monday, 09 April 2012 09:46 AM

    and you think you have made a case. What fun.

    TMA Monday, 09 April 2012 09:37 AM

    They already got it. Check the welfare system of Australia specially created for Aborogines

    Fayad Monday, 09 April 2012 09:53 AM

    Aborigines are waiting to get their due rights in Australia for the past 300 years

    Alex Monday, 09 April 2012 09:25 AM

    @ sack

    who says dual citizenship is no longer valid,

    now sri lanka dont allow dual citizenship but no one can cancel dual citizenship given earlier.

    please educate yourself before putting these comments,

    and the most valuable thing to note is see how much these countries are concerned about their citizens

    Fazli Monday, 09 April 2012 07:07 AM

    Virtual Timed Bomp tied onn

    Sue Monday, 09 April 2012 08:23 AM

    These are the HR violations we're talking about. It does not matter who or what. Humans cannot be abducted like this. International HR Commissions please take action and do something soon; but do not to heap more burdens on the poor citizens of SL which is what you usually do; but take action against the top people who are involved in these violations. In the end its we that suffer and not them.

    Just Another Citizen Monday, 09 April 2012 08:42 AM

    As citizens of this country we deserve the right to know as well. Because it means that we are not safe even in our own backyard.

    shantha madawela Monday, 09 April 2012 08:11 AM

    New reconciliation work or UNHRC

    TMA Monday, 09 April 2012 07:57 AM

    Then Y abduct? He wud've been arrested?

    j Monday, 09 April 2012 08:11 AM

    If he treat to national Security or regime can be arrest and accept that action not denial
    Ranil, Somawansa Bahu also treat to same way.

    RAJU Monday, 09 April 2012 07:54 AM

    I THINK WE CAN PUT THEIR NAMES ALSO IN THE LASANTHA'S LIST.

    Calistus Jayatilleke Monday, 09 April 2012 07:26 AM

    This trend of abductions is going too far and the government is unwittingly internatinolising the issue which will result in severe sanctions for violation of human rights. The ultimate sufferers would be the general public of this country.

    Google_Modawansa Monday, 09 April 2012 07:23 AM

    The inaugural convention of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) will have to be held Sydney or Melbourne.

    mohan Monday, 09 April 2012 07:21 AM

    Financial Sanctions against i few individual will do the job need fullty , why should they bring Sanctions against poor people

    Roger Monday, 09 April 2012 07:31 AM

    Julia Gillard get to the bottom of this ASAP this is a Australian

    bah Monday, 09 April 2012 07:17 AM

    he might be intelligent man thats why...

    sack Monday, 09 April 2012 07:09 AM

    and dear aussie governemnt,
    when did this person entered SL?
    what was his passport no & name?

    because there is no record of "Premakumar Gunaratnam" entering SL. A person known as "Premakumar Gunaratnam" has left country in early 1990s and he hasn't returned.

    That Premakumar Gunaratnams mother has claimed to the police that her son left the country in early 1990s & never returned back.

    so called "Premakumar Gunaratnam" wife has claimed that she is NOT married to a person known as "Premakumar Gunaratnam".

    and if "Premakumar Gunaratnam" is a aussie citizen, how is he involved in politics of a another country (active politics by forming a party). Do note that duel-citizenship is no longer valid.

    So basically a person who was in hiding has gone missing, as claimed by his "friends". Before starting with "going missing" is there any official record that such a person was in the country (for him to go missing)???

    defRep Monday, 09 April 2012 07:08 AM

    He was captured not because of his political activism, he was captured because he posed a threat to national security.

    Any elements who pose a threat to national security will be dealt with by the Ministry of Defence, forgot about the police or any police division for that matter.

    Bigfoot Monday, 09 April 2012 07:13 AM

    it is all about human rights which is now disappearing. Time for the international community to act. Sanctions?


Add comment

Comments will be edited (grammar, spelling and slang) and authorized at the discretion of Daily Mirror online. The website also has the right not to publish selected comments.

Reply To:

Name - Reply Comment





Order Gifts and Flowers to Sri Lanka. See Kapruka's top selling online shopping categories such as Toys, Grocery, Kids Toys, Birthday Cakes, Fruits, Chocolates, Clothing and Electronics. Also see Kapruka's unique online services such as Money Remittence,Astrology, Courier/Delivery, Medicine Delivery and over 700 top brands. Also get products from Amazon & Ebay via Kapruka Gloabal Shop into Sri Lanka

VAT increase: SOUNDs death knell for publishers, readers

Though the Government imposed VAT (Value Added Tax) on vegetables and other e

How female change-makers are driving Sri Lanka’s energy saving platform

Saving energy has become more of a responsibility than a habit in today’s c

A dull Ramadan awaits Muslims amidst the Soaring Cost of Living

In the coming days, Muslims across the world will welcome the Holy Month of R

New wildlife underpass to curtail HEC

As of February 2024, Sri Lanka lost another 38 elephants as a result of the H