When Gunaratnam was arrested during the Rajapaksa regime, Ranil Wickremesinghe pointed it out as a wrongdoing, and promised any intervention on his part, Premaratne told the media yesterday (05).

FSP and other political and civil society activists and Gunaratnam’s family members also spoke on the occasion.

Speaking here, FSP politburo member Duminda Nagamuwa alleged his party continued to be targeted, in the same manner Lalith and Kugan went missing and Dimuthu Attygalle was abducted during the previous regime.

License to do politics

The government’s message is for us to kneel down before it and obtain license from them to do politics, he charged.

Nagamuwa said they would not kneel down, and asked the government to respond politically, without making an immigration and emigration issue out of it.

Weerawansa, Gunaratnam treated differently

NSSP’s Dr. Vickramabahu Karunaratne said Wimal Weerawansa, having several passports and Gunaratne with one passport are having the same problem, but are being treated differently.

He said this was how a frightened government was reacting following the recent uprising by students.

Karunaratne urged PM Wickremesinghe, who propagates liberal democracy, to make a clear statement.

Question of democracy

Ceylon Teachers Union secretary Joseph Stalin said this was an issue of democracy in the country, a political matter that goes beyond a mere immigration and emigration issue.

Gunaratne should be allowed to engage in his politics, he said.

Rajitha’s talk

IUSF convener Lahiru Weerasekara said minister Rajitha Senaratne told the media soon after the ‘good governance’ regime took over that the white van and murder culture would be ended, media freedom and students’ rights would be safeguarded, and invited those who fled due to political reasons to return home.

Now, what should be asked as to whom those were said, he said, adding that this would be the fate of those who oppose the government.

(pics: Roshan Chaturanga)