Arrest of Frontline Socialist Party leader Premakumar Gunaratnam was the latest example to prove that Yahapalana government was no different from the previous Rajapaksa regime, FSP Central Committee Member Duminda Nagamuwa said yesterday.

Addressing a press conference at the Centre for Society and Religion in Colombo, Nagamuwa said: “Under Rajapaksa we saw abductions and now under the Yahapalana regime we see arrests galore. Except for this slight difference, suppression remains the same.”

Gunaratnam was arrested for political reasons, Nagamuwa said. “Gunaratnam is a citizen of this country. He schooled here, did politics here. Though he had to leave the country to escape political suppression, he is not a criminal. He returned home when the government started telling the world that normalcy has been restored. He decided to stay because the Yahapalana government said that they restored democracy. But now we know the real taste of that democracy,” Nagamuwa said.

Asked as to why Gunaratnam had been hiding since his Visa expired, Nagamuwa said: “Gunaratnam was not hiding. He was one of our national list members when we contested the last general election. He did nothing wrong to go into hiding.”

Nagamuwa said that his party would stage demonstrations, protests, and agitations and make use of every possible democratic means to secure the release of their leader. The first of a series of protests would be held in Colombo today (05) opposite the Fort Railway Station. The protest would commence at 3.30 pm, he said.

“If the government is thinking it can silence us by arresting our leader and win the day, they are mistaken. We are determined to get him released,” Nagamuwa said.

General Secretary of the FLSP Senadheera Gunathilake also addressed the press.

Courtesy:The Island