JVP MP deported from Japan

A JVP parliamentarian has been deported from Japan after being detained and questioned at the Japanese airport by officials, well informed sources said.
The MP together with another party official had reportedly been questioned on Friday for several hours, among other issues, on the purpose of their visit to Japan.

Subsequently the MP was deported while the other JVP member was permitted to proceed with his visit to Japan.

Though the actual reason for the detention and deportation is still not clear, there is speculation that illegal fund raising may have been one of the reasons.

When contacted by media, Ambassador Ranjith Uyangoda said yesterday he had heard of reports of such an incident taking place but was unable to verify the details as the Immigration and Emigration offices in Japan were closed for the weekend.

However JVP general secretary Tilvin Silva said he was not aware of any JVP MP being detained or deported from Japan.

The JVP maintains an office in Japan with a strong membership base which supports and funds its political activities in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile in May the JVP branch in Japan said it had severed all connections with the party over the ousting of Wimal Weerawansa, ten other MPs and a large number of party members.

The branch claimed that its comrades in Japan had credited the money they earned to the party fund and also funded all elections except the Eastern Provincial Council polls.

It also claimed in a statement that it had loaned a large sum of money to the party on various occasions yet none of it was repaid but the JVP said it had no connections with the branch in Japan.