JVP Western Provincial Councilor Kingsley Kasturiarachchi yesterday joined the National Freedom Front (NFF) led by JVP dissident MP Wimal Weerawansa, at the NFF headquarters in Battaramulla.

Kasturiarachchi, having joined the JVP in 1970, successfully contested the 2004 PC polls on the UPFA ticket from the Gampaha District. Earlier, he had worked as a JVP member of the Gampaha Municipal Council. Then he organised the Dompe electorate for the JVP. Currently, he is Vice Chairman of the JVP’s Gampaha Organisation.

Addressing the media at NFF headquarters after his crossover, Kasturiarachchi said it had been very difficult for him to leave the party but he was left with no alternative because of the present leadership.

He said he had serious policy difference with the JVP and therefore had decided to join the NFF, which, he said, was progressive.

He said the JVP had suffered an irreparable loss due to the wrong strategy of the present leadership, as evident from the humiliating defeat at the recently concluded NCP and Sabaragamuwa PC polls.

NFF leader Wimal Weerawansa said Kingsley was the second Western Provincial Councillor to join his newly formed party. A few months ago the JVP WP Councillor Priyantha Bellana had joined the NFF, he said.