By: Walter JayawardhanaThe Sri Lankan Defence Secretary has called on foreign countries to hand over LTTE terrorists and their assets, worth of millions of dollars, BBC's Anbarasan Ethirajan reported.
The report said the demand by Mr. Gotabhaya Rajapaksa (photo) came weeks after the arrest of the LTTE arms procurement head, Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias KP.
The Sri Lankan military crushed LTTE terrorists in May this year also killing their Supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran . KP the most senior leader who escaped death as he was out of the country, self appointed him as the leader thereafter.
"He's a seasoned man, so he's coming out with information very slowly during interrogation. He was the person who ran a massive network to purchase arms and ammunition for the LTTE for nearly 30 years," Secretary Defence Gotabaya Rajapaksa was quoted having told the BBC. The report further said, "The LTTE had a well-organised overseas network to fund their arms purchases.
Its investments abroad are said to range from grocery shops to real estate, from petrol stations to temples, from commercial shipping to financing movies. But most of these activities were carried out under different names as the rebels were banned in many countries.
"The estimates about the LTTE's assets and investments range from $300m (œ182m) to $1bn. Mr Pathmanathan is believed to have substantial knowledge about these assets.
"Once it is proved that these assets belong to the LTTE, then concerned countries should hand over the assets as well as the remaining LTTE members to Sri Lanka," Mr Rajapasa said.
"He said that "if the western world is serious about fighting terrorism" it would not provide safe sanctuary "to a terrorist organisation like the LTTE". "The arrest of Pathmanathan is regarded as a significant blow to the LTTE's overseas operations, especially when it was desperately looking for a figurehead to revive the organisation and boost its sagging morale following its defeat on the battleground."
Source: Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Published by Mike Hitchen,
Putting principles before profits
Sri Lanka LTTE Terrorism Velupillai Prabhakaran Selvarasa Pathmanathan KP
Putting principles before profits
Sri Lanka LTTE Terrorism Velupillai Prabhakaran Selvarasa Pathmanathan KP
