UK training for LTTE ‘police’: Govt launches probe

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan Government and Defence authorities have launched an investigation into reports that LTTE operatives received ‘police’ training in the UK after the CFA was signed, with the blessings of Norway and the knowledge of the then UNF Government.

The top-level probe has been spurred as a result of revelations by an LTTE cadre who was arrested at a police roadblock in Trincomalee, a highly placed defence source said.

Kalimuttu Vinodkumar, the 29-year suspect, told Police he was among 12 LTTE cadres sent on a three-month training programme to Northern Ireland shortly after the Norwegian-brokered CFA was signed in February 2002. The course had been conducted by foreign instructors with the help of Tamil translators.

Norway is believed to have facilitated the visit with the knowledge of the then UNP-led UNF Government. Following the CFA, LTTE delegations undertook several ‘political’ and ‘study’ visits abroad.

Vinodkumar revealed that on his return, he and the 11 others trained LTTE cadres at village level for duties at ‘police’ stations in uncleared areas.

Vinodkumar had been in charge of LTTE ‘police’ deployed at Sampur before the Army regained the area last year. He claimed he quit the organisation after their defeat in Sampur.

Since then, the Government has totally liberated the East and established Police stations in many areas.