Sacked Weerawansa absent at the April hero commemoration; Tilvin, Anura go abroad

(Lanka-e-News, ) Former Propaganda Secretary of JVP Wimal Weerawansa was a notable absentee at the JVP April hero commemoration held in the Viharamahadevi Open Theater, Colombo today (05). JVP Secretary Tilvin Silva and politburo member Anura Kumara Disanayaka were also absent and it was announced that they were on a foreign tour. MP K.D. Lal Kantha held the welcome speech and JVP leader Somawansa Amarasinghe delivered the keynote address.

"We say to our party members not to be hares that hop here and there. If they do so, we have to tie their limbs. We came to the party to serve the public. If one does not perform the duties, the party can take back any office or power granted by the party," said Mr. Amarasinghe alluding to the suspension of Mr. Weerawansa's membership.

Fewer crowds participated in the April hero commemoration. The decorations around the country lacked attraction. JVP's April hero poster also lacked vigor this year and it contained an oil lamp.

Lanka-e-News learns that the JVP wanted to expose the suspension of party membership of Mr. Weerawansa after the Eastern Provincial Council election since it could affect the election campaign since the Patriotic National Movement and Mr. Weerawansa had a vote base in Trincomalee district. Weerawansa was stunned when he became aware of the suspension decision that was made in his absentia.

However, the sudden decision to suspend the membership of Mr. Weerawansa has confused the JVP cadres and benefactors in foreign countries and Mr. Tilvin Silva has left for Japan while MP Anura Disanayaka has arrived in Europe to console them. The JVP Japan branch leader who is a close associate of Wimal Weerawansa recently helped JVP to re-launch its 'Lanka' newspaper that was collapsed due to financial crisis.