Govt establishing authenticity of KPs disclosures

Chamikara Weerasinghe

The Government is in the process of establishing the authenticity of various details that self proclaimed new leader of the LTTE remnants, Selvarasa Pathmanathan alias KP , currently in Government custody, has revealed to the Sri Lankan authorities about several local individuals and organisations that have reportedly supported the LTTE and their terrorist movement, Defense Spokesman and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella told the Daily News yesterday.

Rambukwella said, they want to confirm the veracity of Pathmanathan's disclosures about these individuals and organisations that supported the terrorist outfit before they round them up." They will be apprehended no sooner than we are able to find reliable evidence," he said.

"On being interrogated by the authorities, KP had revealed some of their names. He had also revealed about their international links and how they purchased arms and smuggled them to Sri Lanka," the Minister said.

Asked if the arrest of Pathmanathan could mean the end of the LTTE's international links, Rambukwella said, the arrest of KP has the worst kind of impact on those LTTE remnants who function from various centers in other countries. "It could mean that their functions can come to a halt with the defeat of the LTTE and their expectations which have manifested around KP as their new leader and international arms smuggler," he added.

Besides, the arrest of KP means a huge step forward in the fight against terrorism internationally. He is wanted by Interpol for various criminal offenses, Rambukwella said. Asked if the Government would hand over Pathmanathan to Interpol or any other countries to be interrogated over his criminal activities, he said the Government is prepared to arrange such investigations on the request of any such interested party. Meawhile, KP remains in the custody of the Government while investigations are continuing to unveil the LTTE's international network.