"I will die, but not alone, I was a guerrilla," former JVP Parliamentarian and candidate for the 1999 Presidential election Nandana Gunathilake has warned in a Facebook post, citing his possible predicament in case the government deprives the former MPs of their pension. He says he draws only a monthly pension of Rs. 68,000 as a former MP out of which only around Rs. 800 is left for his monthly meals after paying rent for the house he lives in, other utility bills and expenses being for his medications.
"There are over 200 such former MPs who represent the UNP, SLFP, JVP and Tamil parties in Parliament" Gunathilake claimed.
"We will have to commit suicide as the July strikers did. This is the plight of those engaged in full time politics. This is the predicament of the families that have lost their livelihood after their breadwinners died in the war. We would be able to hold on to the life for two or three years by selling what is left with us. Nobody would give us jobs at this stage of our life. The last resort is begging. No, no need to live so. Yes, will will die, but not alone, I am a guerilla" the former MP said.
Gunathilake after quitting the JVP formed the National Freedom Front (NFF) along with another JVP defector Wimal Weerawansa in 2008 and then joined the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) in 2010 and later teamed up with the UNP in 2004. He was the Chairman of the Panadura Urban Counci
