Elusive ‘leader’ of the Frontline Socialist Party and its Central Committee member Kumar Gunaratnam arrived in Sri Lanka today at 12.15 am.

Gunaratnam, who was deported from Sri Lanka to Australia in 2012, is to make a public appearance today by addressing a press conference in Rajagiriya.

Earlier, it the Police said he would be arrested on his arrival as he had violated immigration and emigration laws. However, a week before the presidential election, Gunaratnam, a citizen of Australia, visited the country without being arrested.

Gunaratnam was born in 18 November 1965 to an ethnic Tamil mother and a father in Kegalle. He was educated in St. Mary's College, Kegalle, and Pinnawala Maha Vidyalaya. He entered the University of Peradeniya Faculty of Engineering and became a student leader within a short while after entering the university.He did not complete his degree; although his profession is stated as an "Engineer". He is married to a Sinhalese doctor, Champa Somaratna, a resident in Australia.

During 1988-89, Gunaratnam functioned as the Trincomalee leader of Deshapremi Janatha Viyaparaya (DJV), he was also the contact point between the JVP and Tamil groups of Marxist orientation, mainly the TELO. Touted as an explosives expert, he allegedly masterminded the JVP attack on the Pallekele army camp and IPKF camp at Kallar. After the death of Ranjitham, Prema- kumar operated under his brother’s name. He was arrested and imprisoned at Bogambara Prison but escaped tunnelling his way out of prison on 13 December 1988. Subsequently, he fled the country, reportedly via the sea route as the military launched a man hunt.

After the JVP’s re-entry into the democratic stream, Gunaratnam played a key role in the party and broke away as a result of an internal dispute. He was arrested by Police in Makola and was deported to Australia when the Australian High Commission exerted pressure on the Sri Lankan government.