Govt detains pro-LTTE journalist

Rafik JALALDEEN

**Detained at BIA on his way to Singapore

**Employed by prominent news agency in Colombo

A prominent LTTE supporter who was posing as a journalist was arrested at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) while about to take wing to Singapore.

Addressing the weekly security briefing at the MCNS, Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said Prakash Shakthi Velupillai who was employed by a prominent news agency housed in Colombo-7 had been arrested by police at the BIA, preventing him from leaving the country.

“Initial investigation revealed that Prakash is a hardcore supporter of the LTTE and maintained a close relationship with the outfit.

The suspect had in his possession a media ID card similar to the one issued by the Information Department, identifying him as a journalist working for a prominent news agency. The media ID card had been forged, it was revealed.

The Information Department in a communique issued by acting Information Director Irene Nanayakkara yesterday said the Department had not issued a Media Accreditation Card to the perosn nabbed at the BIA.

The Department has utilised modern technology to identify persons who are ineligible to have such identity cards and forged identity cards. Minister Rambukwella observed that the media was playing an important role on national security and journalists have access to tight security zones and other places. “We ask journalists to be vigilant about their surrounding and be on their guard about strangers who may try to pose as journalists,” the Minister said.

Since the LTTE is being crushed by Security Forces in the North and contained into a 400 square kilometre area in the Vanni jungle, the Tiger cadres are aiming to create mayhem and chaos in the South.

The police have requested public to be vigilant and take extra precautions as 14 LTTE suicide cadres have been deployed to carry out destructive missions in the South. Minister Rambukwella asserted that since the LTTE was facing a humiliating defeat in the North and their territory shrinking to 400 square kilometres in the Vanni, the LTTE cadres are carefully planning to carry out suicide missions in the South to disrupt normality.”

The Tigers who are in a state of disarray are aiming to create disaster in the South,” he remarked. Police spokesman SSP Ranjith Gunaskera said intelligence following arrest of several LTTE suspects in the South have revealed that 16 LTTE cadres have been deployed to carry out suicide missions in the South.

Two of the 16 missions have been accomplished and there are14 remaining suicide missions to be accomplished.

Meanwhile, police seized 23kgs of C4 explosives and a haul of arms and weapons while being transported to Colombo by a van passing several checkpoints. SSP Gunasekera called for public assistance and vigilance to thwart and prevent LTTE terror acts.

“The LTTE explosives van and arms and weapons recovered in Karadiyanarukulam, Batticaloa had been seized by police on information from an LTTE cadre who was arrested in Padukka who attempted to explode a bomb inside a bus in December.

The suspect was arrested on information from a vigilant woman travelling in the same bus”, he added.Recalling the series of bomb blasts carried out by the LTTE in the South targeting civilians and the Security Forces during January and February in 2008, Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the public should be alert and pay extra attention in the coming days the country is preparing to celebrate Independence.