Channel 4 journalist, an LTTEer - Defence Ministry
*Underwent training in Vanni
*Served in LTTE military wing
*Joined Voice of Tigers
The Defence Ministry yesterday said that Issipriya the woman who is
alleged to have been a journalist and a news presenter in the Channel 4
documentary, was an LTTE cadre. The ministry also released a photograph
of the identity card issued by the LTTE to Issipriya, in which she was
clad in combat attire, confirming her military involvement with the LTTE.
Issipriya was born in 1982 in Jaffna and was subsequently recruited by
the LTTE and underwent military training in the Vanni.
Issipriya and in combat attire on right. |
She then served in the LTTE Military Wing and subsequently joined the
Voice of Tigers (VoT), the official radio station of the LTTE, the
Defence Ministry said.
A report submitted to UNESCO by the government following the bombing
of VoT by the Sri Lanka Air Force in 2007 made it clear that VoT was the
official propaganda radio station of the LTTE.
The LTTE cadres who died in the attack were identified as cadres who
had also been actively engaged in military operations against the
Security Forces, the Defence Ministry said.
Issipriya was given the rank of ‘Lt Col’ due to her contribution to
the LTTE. She married Sea Tiger cadre Sri Ram who also died in the final
battle in May 2009. Sri Ram was the former LTTE Senior Sea Tiger leader
in Trincomalee and took part in most of the operations launched by the
LTTE against the Sri Lanka Navy and Merchant Vessels.
The identity card issued by the LTTE to Issipriya, in which she was
clad in combat attire, further confirms her military involvements with
the LTTE, the Defence Ministry said. |