No rest in hunt for LTTE remnants - Dr. Kohona

Manjula FERNANDO

Foreign Secretary Dr.Palitha Kohona said KP's arrest will not relax Sri Lanka's hunt on LTTE remnants operating in the international front.

"No, we are not going to relax until we get all of them," he said when asked if the arrest of the LTTE's International Head and Chief Procurement Officer Kumaran Pathmanathan better known as KP gave some breathing space for the Sri Lankan officials because they have got their 'prize-catch'.

'They are involved in gun running, people smuggling, drug dealing and fund-raising for terrorism," referring to the LTTE operatives overseas, he added. Dr.Kohona stressed their vigorous campaign to wipe out the LTTE will continue at the same pace despite the arrest of the new Tiger Chief.

Asked about the reports of requests from the foreign states to grill KP, he said the Government has not received any formal requests from foreign states or intelligence agencies to question KP, so far.

Newspapers reported yesterday that the Indian RAW, Russian KGB, Britain's MI 5, America's CIA and FBI and certain other countries struggling with the scourge of terrorism have sought to interrogate KP who had been frequenting these countries in line of duty as the chief procurement officer of armaments and head of LTTE shipping fleet.

KP is also wanted by the interpol for gun running charges and the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

Commenting on the LTTE's demand for an inquiry and intervention by the international community as to how their leader was apprehended and ensure proper legal representation for KP, the Foreign Secretary said he could only laugh at this request by a terrorist organisation.

"Provoking laughter is not a specialty of the LTTE but on this occasion they have done it," he said.