LTTE attempting to take-over Hindu temple

R. Srikanthan in London

ENGLAND: The North London based Kanaga Durkai Amman Hindu temple, which is run currently by independent management following the overthrow of the pro-LTTE regime headed S. Karunalingam is back again facing problems with the LTTE.

The LTTE is making every effort to take control of the temple into its hands. The ousted Chairman is masterminding the takeover.

During his term as Chairman, Karunalingam proactively brought the temple as an LTTE front. Special fund raising programmes were initiated and sizeable funds were channelled to the LTTE by various means. Karunalingam made special visits to Vanni and sent other committee members to make funding arrangements for the LTTE.

The building complex of the LTTE's Navam Arivukkudam in Vanni started in the name of dead LTTE hero is a typical testimony to the funds channelled for the LTTE by the previous Karunalingam's regime. In addition, funds were channelled to several other projects including IT centres established for the LTTE cadres in Vanni in 2005.

During Karunalingam's management of the temple, violence and corruption were endemic. A pro LTTE Youth Front was formed and it was involved in credit card frauds and violence.

Karunalingam even masterminded the kidnap of Fr. Jagath Gasper at the Heathrow Airport to prevent him from addressing a rival temple gathering on his arrival in London.

Charity Commission's intervention saw Karunalingam being removed from the Trustee Board and an interim administration of the Executive Committee stepping in, to bring stability to the temple administration.

Karunalingam is from northern islet of Punguduthivu and is well connected to LTTE Supremo's wife Mathivathani Pirabakaran. Following his exit from the temple management, LTTE rewarded him with the post of Manager with the Tamil Television Network (TTN).

Unemployed Karunalingam found the TTN job lucrative and kept away from temple activities for some time.

TTN Chairman Vahan is also from Punguduthivu. He underwent military training in Vanni last year under special arrangement with the LTTE and is a childhood friend of S. Karunalingam. The LTTE's failures taking over and managing temple has seriously dented its authority and reputation among its support base in London.

In order to invigorate the lost momentum the LTTE is making subtle efforts to make in roads into the temple administration. Karunalingam has now aligned with LTTE's front nitharsanam.com. Nitharsanam.com wrote a piece about Karunalingam few weeks ago praising his dedicated service to the Kanaga Durgai Amman temple. It attacked those ousted Karunalingam from the temple administration.

The temple will be holding its Annual General Meeting on April 21. A systematic campaign is now being waged by Karunalingam in the LTTE website scandalising the election process for the election of new committee members.

During Karunalingam's regime large number of pro-LTTE membership was infused to keep him in power.

But unfortunately the list had to be revised eliminating large number of unpaid memberships which Karunalingam used in his favour.