The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) says that they have no issue with the court ruling and sentencing of party member Kumar Gunaratnam, however accused the government of exacting “political revenge” by keeping mum on the issue of granting him citizenship. 

Gunaratnam, a FSP politburo member and former JVP senior, was sentenced to one year in jail for violating immigration laws was and slapped with a fine of Rs 50,000 by the Kegalle Magistrates Court on Thursday (31). 

FSP supporters staged a protest outside the Department of Immigration and Emigration in Colombo yesterday and were met with police baton charge when they attempted to storm the building. 

 Addressing a press conference today, FSP propaganda secretary Pubudu Jagoda said that they have no issues with the court ruling, however accused the government of exacting “political revenge” by remaining silent on the issue of giving Sri Lankan citizenship to Gunaratnam, an Australian citizen. 

He stated that they had visited the Department of Immigration and Emigration yesterday for the third time to handover an application seeking citizenship for Gunaratnam after the sentencing.

Jagoda accused the police of instigating yesterday’s clash at the Immigration Department which resulted in damage to property. 

He also opposed the decision by authorities to place Gunaratnam at the Anuradhapura Priosn instead of the Welikada Prison.