JVP crisis worsens

21 September 2011 03:44 am Views - 11277

The JVP organisers of Kalutara, Colombo and Gampaha have joined politbureau member Premkumar Gunaratnam’s group in opposition to the Somawansa Amarasinghe camp and triggered a major crisis within the party.

Premkumar Gunaratnam, it is learnt, is organising party cadres in 14 districts and has even moved to dissolve dozens of JVP affiliated organisations, including the National Bhikku Front.

Most of the party offices in the Western Province have remained closed during the past few days.

Gunaratnam, the brother of JVP senior Ranjitham (who was killed during the 1988/89 insurgency), had been in self exile in Australia till recently. He had reportedly returned to Sri Lanka early this month.

It is learnt that the Somawansa camp is slated to hold a media briefing soon to tell their side of the story.

Gunaratnam is said to be of the opinion that the JVP should support the Tamil cause, while the Amarasinghe group is opposed to communalising the party.

Highly placed party sources said that there was a plan by Gunaratnam group to go underground and pave the way for an armed struggle.