By Lionel Bopage –
Dr. Lionel Bopage
The issues related to the deportation of Kumar continued to attract attention with the revelation that the Sri Lankan state intelligence forces had been ordered to arrest him as early as February 2012. However, the basis for this order lacked clarity. The FSP was said to be intending to campaign on the rights of the missing civilians and political detainees in the north and east of the island, at a time when the state was in the process of suppressing dissent. The state proclaimed that Kumar was a militant with outstanding charges as he was a prison escapee and was using a fake passport. When Australia sought clarification from the Sri Lankan state regarding Kumar Gunaratnam, the then Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa had asked the Australian High Commission to prove that Kumar had returned to Sri Lanka. According to the reports, he had said that no Australian national carrying a passport bearing the name Premakumar Gunaratnam had ever come to Sri Lanka as per the records maintained at the Bandaranaike International Airport.
Tilivin Silva – the current JVP secretary (left) and Kumar Guanratnam ( right)
The current episode about Kumar was kindled by his recent arrest. According to several sources of information, Kumar was to contest the presidential election as the common candidate of the Left. FSP publicly stated that Kumar had no legal barrier to enter Sri Lanka, despite rumours to the effect that he had been blacklisted from entering the country. He had entered Sri Lanka as an Australian citizen under the name Noel Mudalige on a 30-day tourist visa, on January 1, 2015, just before the Presidential Election held on January 8. While on tourist visa, he had allegedly engaged in political activities to promote the Presidential candidate of the FSP. The Department of Immigration and Emigration had sought his arrest for visa violations. The Department had summoned him twice to record statements regarding his involvement in local politics. He was to be deported on the grounds that he had violated the Immigration and Emigration regulations. His arrest and deportation was stayed by the Supreme Court after the FSP filed a fundamental rights petition. It was taken up for hearing, but dismissed by the court on February 18. He had been arrested and charged with absconding after overstaying his tourist visa. He is currently kept in extended remand custody, until his case is heard.
There had been speculation in January 2015 itself that Kumar may not obtain an extension to his tourist visa and may have to leave or be deported. He had allegedly violated conditions of his tourist visa by actively engaging in politics during his stay. In January itself, Sri Lankan authorities had been inquiring about the whereabouts of Kumar. At their request, Kumar had called over at the Department of Immigration with his lawyers, where he had been questioned about his conduct in Sri Lanka while on a tourist visa.
Soon after his entry to the country, he gave a press conference at the Lions Club Hall in Rajagiriya, to express his intention to stay in Sri Lanka and engage in politics to support the Presidential election campaign of the FSP. He had also stated that the presidential election had provided some political space that he intends to use. Kumar accused the JVP of having entered into a secret deal with the opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena. He denied that he had arrived after having made a secret deal with the previous Rajapaksa regime to visit Sri Lanka again. Nevertheless, there was widespread suspicions that the previous regime had facilitated Kumar’s visit to Sri Lanka, in order to allege a secret deal between the JVP and the opposition candidate so as to embarrass them.
The JVP leadership had outrightly denied the existence of a member/leader of the JVP by the name of Premkumar Gunaratnam or Kumara Mahaththaya. On the contrary, other sources state that during the 1988-89 period, Kumar had been the area leader of Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya (DJV) in Trincomalee, and that he had been the contact person between the JVP and certain left orientated Tamil political groups, mainly the TELO. It is also said that he masterminded the JVP attack on the Pallekele army camp and IPKF camp at Kallar. He had been arrested and held in Bogambara Prison but escaped from prison in December 1988. Kumar had fled Sri Lanka later as the then United National Party government stepped up its terror campaign in which death squads slaughtered 60,000 JVP members and rural youth. He sought asylum in Australia where he later obtained citizenship. Subsequently, Kumar had begun to revive and re-organise the JVP working with other senior JVP leaders.
To be continued
Vibhushana / December 28, 2015
Out of 60,000+ JVP carders only Kumar Gunaratanm attacked an IKPF camp!
The other were fiddling while Rome was burning were they? Or perhaps they were the ones who set Rome on fire!
What was the purpose of JVP 88-90 campaign? Was it to challenge the Indo-Lanka accord?
Then why only Kumar Gunaratanm attacking an IKPF camp while others attacking Sri Lankan army camps?
Added to the mystery no one in IKPF remembers neither Kumar Gunaratanm nor JVP. Check if Kumar actually attacked the camp.
He may have just pissed on the fence and claimed he overran the IKPF. Although Kumar is remembered well for his attack on Pallakale Sri Lankan army camp.
The bigger question why does JVP exist in the first place? What is their purpose? Is to to create a Fidel Castro Cuba when Cubans themselves have given up on Fidel Castro?
Also, why is this donkey Lionel Bopage living in Australia instead of Cuba?
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Funlover / December 28, 2015
Dr Bopa don’t you have anything better to do than writing ‘Much ado about nothing’? Who is worried about a nincompoop? Write about Wewelpanawa and the Sex & Love show – much more interesting.
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MOHAMED MARZOOK / December 28, 2015
Kumar seems to a confused individual. If the FSP was to move forward they should leave out Kumar.
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justice / December 29, 2015
Kumar G, appears to be a lucky man.
With a Tamil name he appears to have so far escaped torture, assault etc.
Maybe, the publicity prevented these from occurring.
He is certainly more fortunate than other Tamils who, after employment abroad, returned only to be arrested at the airport and kept incommunicado in secret places of detention.
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sach / December 29, 2015
i ve seen luckier tamils , a hell of a lot
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Douglas / December 29, 2015
Dr. Bopage: You are in Australia as an Australian citizen. I still do not know the name you carry in that Australian passport. However, if a person by the name “Noel Mudalige” a citizen of Australia carrying an Australian passport had entered Sri Lanka with a “Visit Visa” to stay for a duration of thirty (30) days, he must leave the country unless he has obtained legal extension to stay on terms and conditions stipulated.It is immaterial for us to know whether this person “Neol Mudalige” is actual “Premakumar Gunaratnam”. Why Sri Lanka cannot immediately DEPORT him to Australia from where he came and belong to, is a BIG QUESTION we Sri Lankans ask. We also do not want to know whether this “Noel Mudalige” or “Premakumar Gunaratnam” is known to JVP or one of their “Associates”. Neither, we are interested in JVP identifying this person or “owning” as one of their comrades. In your credible intelligence (if you do possess one) would have to admit this “Illegal” immigrant, an Australian citizen holding that country’s passport and carrying the name “Noel Mudalige” MUST be forthwith DEPORTED to the country where he belongs to. So please do not waste you time in issuing credentials and identifications to this “Noel Mudalige” who is presently under custody for violating our Immigration Rules. You can talk and make representation to YOUR COUNTRY i.e. Australia. Please do not bother us with this SCRAP of 1971 type that which you have mastered and failed. We have many other things to grapple with.
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Inspector Dirty Hari / December 29, 2015
Douglas,
“However, if a person by the name “Noel Mudalige” a citizen of Australia carrying an Australian passport had entered Sri Lanka with a “Visit Visa” to stay for a duration of thirty (30) days, he must leave the country unless he has obtained legal extension to stay on terms and conditions stipulated.It is immaterial for us to know whether this person “Neol Mudalige” is actual “Premakumar Gunaratnam”.”
I agree with you but did not the accused illegally participate in elections being a foreigner, use a false name and very likely even use a false NIC?
In my opinion his name is now Noel Mudalige and all the other names and IDs etc with other names are false and invalid.
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Inspector Dirty Hari / December 29, 2015
Douglas,
Just to add that the Australian authorities and law might have something against one of their citizens using a false name and documents and becoming a candidate in elections in a foreign country. I assume that a candidate has to sign something and signing with a false name is not legal.
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PattiGona / December 29, 2015
You are a typical hypocrite wasting Oxygen. You were part of the class envious JVPers who were jealous of aristocrats and wealth and even capitalist entrepreneurs. You wanted the entitlement system and welfare. Please note, this is not 1971 nor is it the time your ugly boss slaughtered thousands for his nationalistic socialist fascist war during 1987-89. You are wasting our precious oxygen. You are class envious and suffer tremendously from an inferority complex. We are glad your monsters were wiped out. You forced people to carry coffins at knee high level. You killed people for raising the national flag on independence day. You hated hardworking professionals. You started killing family members of soldiers and that is where you went wrong. We are glad you are in Australia. Stay there comrade and preach revolution to the Aborigines and Samoan migrants.
Cheers:
Capitalist entrepreneur
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Mrs Panabokke / December 29, 2015
no wonder why bopage, the old terrorist is white washing gunarathnam the new terrorist
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Girigoris / January 1, 2016
They were both hiding in one cave with no female companions so the next step you know what i mean.
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Gunawathi Punchihewa / December 29, 2015
I note ‘to be continued…’.
Please don’t write again, any further.
No one reads your crap.
Enough of your inferiority complex
You are a useless creature; a failed man who destroyed a country
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Parakrama Kodituwakku / December 29, 2015
Cannot understand why Lionel Bopage is batting for a fellow like Kumar Gunaratnam.
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Douglas / December 29, 2015
Inspector Dirty Harry: Thank you. This man by the name “Noel Mudalige” holder of an Australian passport has overstayed his visa of 30 days. Then again he has violated the terms and conditions of that visa and engaged in “Political Activities”. Some “Political Organization” representing him had gone to the extent of filing a case in our Supreme Courts alleging, “violation of his Human Rights” (mind you the “nitwits” of that organization had the “courage” to stand for and on behalf of this “fugitive”) and the case was dismissed. So what more that is wanted to ARREST AND DEPORT him back to Australia. But what has the Government done and doing up to now? He is kept in “remand custody” at our expense and go on with a long winding court case. This is how our “Law Enforcement Authorities” have become and put to a “Laughing Stock” situation. When are we going to DO THINGS CORRECTLY? As things are, I presume – NEVER, NEVER.
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Inspector Dirty Hari / December 29, 2015
Douglas,
I agree.
In case you don’t already know many of our constitutional fundamental rights are for citizens only.
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EW Golding / December 29, 2015
I really cannot see why Lionel Bopage is accused of “batting” for this Gunaratnam and why others say LB is promoting him. I can see nothing of this after reading the piece twice. It is (or it purports to be) only a factual account. I would appreciate it if anyone faults Bopage’s ‘facts’ and let’s us know what the errors are. Ad hominem insults tell us more about the commentator than the author of the article.
Gunaratnam’s deportation order is before the courts. It is not for CT commentators to choose whether he should be “deported immediately” – that’s for the courts, otherwise why do we have courts?
And if you are bored with it don’t read it! And don’t tell anyone what they should or should not write about – that’s between the writer, the Editor and those readers who may find the topic interesting.
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Suvendarni / December 30, 2015
EW Golding – Are you Lionel Bopage (in disguise)
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Douglas / December 30, 2015
EW Goldwin: Please read the very opening sentence and continue to the second which reads as: “However the basis for this order lacked clarity”. Why he has to say like that. If the Australian Authorities too confirm that there is no person by the name “Premakumar Gunaratnam” why the Government (Immigration authorities) are not allowed to deport the person “Noel Mudalige” named in that passport? So WHY this Dr. Bopage has to make a statement: “However the basis for this order lacked clarity”. Don’t you see the FACTS are very clear and crystal clear to DEPORT that “Noel Mudalige”. Who cares for the whereabouts of a person named “Premkumar Gunaratnam” unless this “Noel Mudalige” assumed that name on his own volition. That is a matter for FSD and this so called “Political organization” that filed action in our Supreme Courts to find or complain to the Commission on Missing Persons. Just imagine if this type of incident took place in USA, the Boarder Guard Agents would have then an there DEPORTED this “Noel Mudalige” and debarred entry for the rest of his life. That is what “Sovereignty” of a country is demonstrated to the world at large.
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Inspector Dirty Hari / December 30, 2015
Douglas,
“If the Australian Authorities too confirm that there is no person by the name “Premakumar Gunaratnam” why the Government (Immigration authorities) are not allowed to deport the person “Noel Mudalige” named in that passport?”
Unfortunately I don’t know what the police and immigration are investigating and what the charges against “Noel M.” so far are.
My opinion is that he can be prosecuted for much more than just having overstayed his tourist visa.
It may take 10 years for the judge, prosecutor, police and immigration to finish this case.
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EW Golding / December 30, 2015
“If this type of incident took place in USA, the Border Guard Agents would have been there and deported this Noel Mudalige and debarred entry for the rest of his life”
Mr Douglas this statement is incorrect in every clause. Firstly nobody (not even the President) can deport anybody if action is filed in a US court in time and a stay order issued. This happens hundreds of times in the US every year.
Secondly a person cannot be “debarred entry” to the US by any Border Agency but only by due process that involves a determination by the State Dept and Dept of Homeland Security and this can, and has, often been challenged in the courts.
Finally I have never, ever, heard of of an order stating that anybody “is debarred for life” in the US.
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Shyamon Jayasinghe / December 30, 2015
I like to form an impression of this new movement of Gunaratnam. Can he or anybody else tell me what his plans for Sri Lanka are? My impression is that Gunaratnam has thus far kept everyone guessing. Such secrecy did also characterise the JVP movement of Rohana Wijeweera and most of us were left with the impression that RW’s JVP had little more than class hatred at the bottom and that his program was negative.
When G came to Melbourne for a meeting I did try to extract some information but he said vague things like needing to change the mindset of the population first.
Maybe my good friend Lionel might be able to explain it all better
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Inspector Dirty Hari / December 30, 2015
Shyamon,
“I like to form an impression of this new movement of Gunaratnam.”
You might not be the only one. Would any other Australian have spent several weeks in remand prison just because he overstayed his tourist visa? Others would have been deported ASAP.
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Douglas / December 30, 2015
Dear EW Goldwin. I know of several cases of persons not allowed to enter USA even though they possessed required entry documents. Some time back, there was a case that received world wide publicity of a person who happened to be a Canadian passport holder (incidentally he being a Muslim) just not allowed to enter USA at the Boarder by the Boarder Services Agents. In fact he was arrested at the entry point. I am told that Canadian passport holders do not require any other documents to enter USA. Also, there was another from Sri Lanka; mind you a person who was posted to work in our Foreign Mission not allowed to enter and was turned back at the New York Airport. This was during the time of Late JRJ. This person was “debarred” entry for ten years. Then, we too have similar “Laws” to DENY entry and DEPORT. Perhaps, you would remember the case of a prominent politician from Canada by the name Bob Ray (if I remember correct, he was the Leader of the Opposition at that time,subject to correction)who arrived in Sri Lanka with a visa was denied entry and kept at the Katunayaka airport waiting for the next available flight back and DEPORTED. I am also told, “BE READY” for anything at the entry points to USA, because those Boarder Guard Agents have wide powers in making decisions as to who would be or would not be allowed into the country and such decisions are rarely challenged and reversed. Anyway, I will make further inquiries as regards this subject and in the meantime, Thank you.
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Inspector Dirty Hari / December 31, 2015
Douglas,
I believe that deportation is not the same as being denied entry. A person whose entry is denied never enters a country while a person who is deported has entered and will be sent out of the country.
The laws etc obviously are different in different countries.
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chula / December 30, 2015
gunarathnam’s best friend, bopage, please go from this website. if you respect the ct readers, please don’t write here again
thank you
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W.Milton / December 31, 2015
What is JVP a reactionary political outfit function since 1965 May.
It look like left oriented political party to be replace LSSP and other left political parties.
But JVP role of politics in nature of and its last 50 years of practices has shown ,is /was directly or indirectly Support for
Neo-Colonial economy-political system of governances rule by local agent of UNP politics.
JVP is not a ‘Socialist’ Political Party. JVP was anarchist by applying terrorism as similar as UNP political maneuvering operation since 1948.
Bopega was adamant anarchist of that JVP class politics of lumens ,who was Baptist by Neo-liberal system of national and International training by various foreign intelligent services since 1968.
After 1971 April that he first join Catholic mission/newspaper by marriage of Sister of Catholic Non . That is his( BOPEGA)
first step Newly “socialist baptism”.
We have seen JVP many number of practical of political issues that JVP seek closer alignment with UNP last 50 odd years?
The JVP history of last 50 years an ideological ready-made anarchism and politically mature JVP terrorism ,who is quite convinced that it is ‘socialism’ and its ‘revolutionary tactics’ that have failed in two insurrections in 1971 and 1988/89 and not UNP tactics of compromised ,betrayal cause and treachery.
Bopege was great political corrupter.
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Subash Gamage / December 31, 2015
bopage the sri lanka’s first terrorist absconded jvp during the 71 insurrection. he was entrusted to kill mrs bandaranayaka at rosmid place but the plot uncovered beforehand due to early shooting in Wellawaya on 5 April 71. then he went and hid in a convent in moratuwa. He was protected by a nun, who later became a lay woman and his wife. bopage an ardent catholic was always against wijeweera’s nationalism. he preaches gunarathnam’s doctrine of tamil separatism. prior to the insurrection, bopage was involved in bank robberies, especially the kegalle bank robery and political killings including innocent policemen. people like bopage should be slashed with a madu waligaya. pity Colombo telegraph entertains him and give him space
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Cohen / January 1, 2016
[Edited out]
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Douglas / December 31, 2015
Inspector Dirty Hari: Thanh you. You are correct. I used the wrong word “Deport” instead of “Deny Entry”.
EW Goldwin: Yes, I did use the wrong word and take the responsibility for the confusion. Sorry for the misunderstanding.
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Yasin / January 1, 2016
To all the commentators
your comments are different but the end results are the same.
Noel Mudalige alias Kumar Gunaratnam is a misfit to society and is trying to revive a dead ideology aiming at causing economic damage and destruction in the name of socialism and rebellion to democratic nations.
How he escaped the dragnet and crossed over to Australia is a mystery, or maybe not, He lied to the Australian Immigration and got an Australian passport in the name of Noel Mudalige. Who is Noel Mudalige? It will be interesting to check his citizenship papers whether documents were forged and whether this forgery took place in Sri Lanka or Australia.
I feel that the Australian government feels cheated and shamed and prefer to remain quiet on the issue and wash their hands off.
Like it or not Australian passport holder Noel Mudalige must be be deported
to Australia without further delay taking into consideration that he has been punished enough by being in custody.
I see Noel Mudalige alias Kumar Gunaratnam a threat to the public at large and to peace in the country. He should be denied entry permanently.
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Inspector Dirty Hari / January 1, 2016
Yasin,
“Like it or not Australian passport holder Noel Mudalige must be be deported to Australia without further delay taking into consideration that he has been punished enough by being in custody.”
Thank you for your opinions. My understanding is that a judge decides what to do.
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