The Controller General of Immigration and Emigration, Nihal Ranasinghe said yesterday that Frontline Socialist Party leader Kumar Gunaratnam (alias Noel Mudalige) would be deported today.


He said that Gunaratnam had been told to come to the Department of Immigration and Emigration today as he had violated the Immigration and Emigration regulations, having come to the country on a tourist visa and got involved in politics. He had been told that he would be arrested with the assistance of the Police if he failed to  come to the Department as instructed.


Meanwhile, the Supreme Court yesterday rejected the rights petition filed by Kumar Gunaratnam seeking to prevent his arrest and deportation.


The Bench, comprising Chief Justice K. Sripavan and Justices Priyasath Dep and Eva Wanasundera, held that there was no basis to grant leave to proceed with the rights petition filed by the political activist Premkumar Gunaratnam (alias Noel Mudalige) of the Frontline Socialist Party.


Petitioner had cited the Controller of Immigration and Emigration, Public Order Minister John Amaratunga and the Attorney General as Respondents.


Romesh de Silva PC, with Nuwan Bopage, Manjuga Fernandopulle and Sugath Caldera instructed by Lalith Gunartne appeared for the Petitioner. Deputy Solicitor General Viraj Dayaratna appeared for the Respondents.


Petitioner stated that in 2006, the then UPFA government had invited the JVP to form a coalition and take ministries, whereas he had vehemently opposed such a move.


As a result of the internal dispute of the JVP, a few party members had joined the government and revealed that the petitioner had opposed the move to support the then government. (S.S Selvanayagam, Jayantha Samarakoon)