Kumar Gunaratnam must leave – Immigration Dept

by Rukshana Rizwie

Kumar Gunaratnam alias Kumara Mahaththaya who was arrested by Police for overstaying his tourist visa must leave the country according to the law, Controller General of Immigration and Emigration Nihal Ranasinghe said.

“The law applies to all, he has overstayed his tourist visa, which is a clear violation and he needs to return to his homeland and renew his documents,” Ranasinghe said. “We gave him ample opportunity to present himself before the Deparment but he has absconded, which is why he has been remanded.”

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) member, also known by his alias Noel Mudalige, was arrested in Kegalle by the Kegalle Police.

According to reports he had arrived in Sri Lanka on January 1 on a 30-day tourist visa, which expired the same month.

The Australian citizen was summoned twice by the Department of Immigration and Emigration to record his statements over his involvement in politics. He was summoned again to clarify matters regarding his visa, he had not turned up. He failed to respond to all three summons.

“We had to seek the assistance of the police since he was not responding to our requests,” said Ranasinghe. Kumar Gunaratnam was remanded till November 18 by Kegalle Chief Magistrate Prasanna Alwis.