Kumar Gunaratnam’s mother fears for his life

By Chamodi Gunawardana 

Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) politburo member Kumar Gunaratnam’s mother Rajamani Gunaratnam yesterday urged the Government to provide Sri Lankan citizenship for her son. 

Speaking at a media briefing organised by the FSP she claimed she was afraid for her son’s life after he was transferred to the Anuradapura Prison from the Kegalle Prison.

“He was sentenced to one year in jail for violating immigration law and detained at the Kegalle Prison. Now he has been transferred to Anuradapura Prison which is really far away from our residence. Therefore I am unable to visit him regularly,” she claimed.

Rajamani insisted the Government’s decision to move Gunaratnam to Anuradapura from Kegalle would threaten his safety.

Rajamani recalled she had lost her elder son who was the Convener of Inter-University Students’ Federation (IUSF) in 1989 due to his political engagements. She said she feared she would lose her younger son Kumar too.

Rajamani alleged before the trial of Kumar, the relevant officials promised her to give citizenship for him after the legal process came to end.

“When we submitted Kumar’s citizenship application earlier the officials said they cannot accept it due to his pending trials. Now it has ended but he was sentenced to jail. Therefore the officials can grant citizenship for him as promised before,” she claimed. 

She also said; “My son was born in Kegalle and did his primary education within Kegalle. I believe there is no such obstacle to give citizenship for him. I urge the Government to do so and set him free.”