South Asia News

Sri Lanka leftist party says leader, activist are abducted

Apr 8, 2012, 12:43 GMT

Colombo - A radical left-wing party in Sri Lanka said on Sunday that its leader and another activist were abducted ahead of the official launch of the party.

The Frontline Socialist Party (FSP) blamed the Sri Lankan security forces for the alleged abduction on Saturday of leader Premakumar Gunaratnam and activist Dimuthu Attygalle.

Police spokesman Ajith Rohana denied the claim and said an investigation was underway to find the missing party leader and activist.

The FSP is a breakaway group of the Marxists JVP (People's Liberation Front) which was responsible for two failed violent revolts to overthrow the government in 1971 and 1987. The FSP was to announce its launch on Monday.

Two party activists were abducted in northern Sri Lanka in December and their whereabouts remain unknown.

The party has blamed the security forces. The army denies the claim.

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