A fresh tussle has emerged between the JVP and its dissidents for the ownership of the party’s headquarters in Pelawatte, Battaramulla after Party’s member M.K.G.G. Madanayake who was in charge of it defected from the party after the split, the Daily Mirror learns.

Mr. Madanayake, on October 19, tried to enter the headquarters. However, he was blocked by the JVP members. Later, he lodged a complaint with the Talangama police that was threatened with death by some party members.

Asked about this police complaint, JVP MP Vijitha Herath told the Daily Mirror that this police complaint had been made only as part of dissidents’ attempt to create the legal background to claim the ownership of the party’s headquarters. Mr. Herath said that the complaint had been worded in this manner.

However, he said that the land was purchased under the name of Mr. Madanayake for the construction of this building earlier with financial assistance received from party members and well-wishers. Yet, he said the ownership of the land was transferred to the party in 2007.

“Since then, the ownership of the building is with the General Secretary of the party. It is party’s property. After the transfer was done through formal documentation, we applied for a bank loan to construct the building. It is clear. Legally, we have no issue regarding the ownership,” he said.

Mr. Herath said that Mr. Madanayake too stays in a house given to the party by one well-wisher some time ago.

Also, he said that the party is in possession of many of its offices throughout the country.

“It is obvious that they are engaged in a futile exercise to take over the party headquarters. They know it is legally impossible.  Yet, they do it to be in the news only. The euphoria they created after defection from the party has died now. Therefore, they try to be in the limelight by creating news,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Madanayake, in a press release, said yesterday that he lodged a complaint with the police only for his safety from those who threatened him with death on October 19, 2011.

“When I arrived in the headquarters on this day, some comrades of the party who are known to me came and threatened me with death. There were a few other unknown persons. At that moment, I tried to contact General Secretary Tilvin Silva over the phone.  He also asked me not to come,” Mr. Madanayake said. (Kelum Bandara)