Incidents and Statments involving LTTE: 2014

Date

Nature of incident

January 12

Jaffna District, Northern Province

Colombo, Western Province

US pressed Sri Lanka to probe alleged rights abuses by its Army through independent and credible investigations after a top American diplomat recorded eyewitness accounts of serious "abuses" during the final stages of the civil war with the LTTE.

Jaffna District, Northern Province

Reacting to the possibility of being sent to a Government-run rehabilitation camp meant for LTTE detainees, a TNA woman councillor of the NPC said she would resist the move. Ananthi Saseetharan said she was never a member of the LTTE but wanted justice for her husband and several others who had disappeared during the three-decade ethnic conflict.

Mannar District, Northern Province

Forensic experts said a mass grave found in North-eastern, the scene of pitched battles between Government forces and LTTE in 2009 is said to contain several layers of bodies.

Kandy city, Central Province

Mahinda Samarasinghe, Plantation Minister and the country's Human Rights envoy said the country was ready to face another resolution in the UNHRC over alleged war crimes during decade's long civil war against the LTTE.

A survey conducted by the TID found that over 2,900 children and youth abducted by the LTTE had perished in the war. The LTTE had abducted the children and youth from their homes and forcibly recruited to its ranks to fight against the Government SFs at frontlines.

Skeletal remains of three more people have been unearthed from the unmarked grave site found in Mannar District. With the latest discovery, skeletal remains of 42 people have been unearthed so far from the site that was under the control of the LTTE until the SFs liberated Mannar District in 2008.

The 18th anniversary of the deadliest suicide bomb attack by the LTTE on the Central Bank in Colombo was marked. On January 31, 1996, the LTTE rammed a massive explosive-laden truck through the main gate of the Central Bank building killing 91 people including 41 bank employees.

Main opposition UNP blamed the Government for the anticipated UN resolution calling for an international investigation into the alleged war crimes during the last phase of the war against the LTTE terrorists.

Colombo, Western Province

Amirthalingam Baheerathan, the son of the former leader of TULF, who was assassinated by the LTTE, met President Mahinda Rajapaksa in Colombo and praised the country's development brought under the President's leadership.

Colombo, Western Province

British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, John Rankin following an official visit to Jaffna District said in Colombo that Britain does not want to see the return of the terrorism unleashed in Sri Lanka by the LTTE again.

Eighty skeletal remains were dug out of a mass grave in a former LTTE stronghold in Thirukatheeswaram area of Mannar District, fuelling speculation that the bodies are of Tamil civilians who disappeared during the war with the rebels.

ICRC will conduct a survey in Sri Lanka to assess the needs of families of individuals who disappeared during the nearly three-decade war against LTTE terrorists. The survey would begin in April and is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year, ICRC's spokesperson Sarasi Wijeratne told.

According to a source in the Presidential Secretariat, 80 per cent of the complaints of forced disappearance made to the Presidential Commission of Disappearances blame the LTTE.

Galle District, Southern Province

President Mahinda Rajapaksa said "The war was not against the Tamils. We only fought a brutal terrorist outfit that was the LTTE. If our war was against Tamils how could the Tamils live happily and peacefully among the Sinhalese in the south of the country?"

Kilinochchi District, Northern Province

A Sub Inspector of the Terrorist Investigation Unit was shot at and injured when a Police team including the officer went to a suspect's residence at Dharmapuram in Kilinochchi District to arrest him for his involvement in subversive activities. The suspect is a former Liberation LTTE intelligence officer.

Kilinochchi District, Northern Province

Police arrested Tamil activist, Balendra Jeyakumari and her 13-year-old daughter Vidushika from Dharmapuram in the Kilinochchi District for allegedly sheltering the former LTTE 'intelligence officer'.

Colombo, Western Province

SLFP Parliamentarian, Namal Rajapaksa, addressing an election rally in Colombo said that despite the military defeat of the LTTE, members of the LTTE Diaspora were still trying to establish an Eelam.

Jaffna District, Northern Province

Jaffna Commander Major General Udaya Perera said that the Government and the Defense Forces would not allow the re-emergence of the LTTE as the Tamil Diaspora wants.

Kilinochchi District, Northern Province

The two human right activists, Ruki Fernando and Father Prveen detained under the PTA for questioning to ascertain the whereabouts of a LTTE suspect who shot a Police officer in Kilinochchi District was released.

Colombo, Western Province

A group of pro-Government protesters staged demonstrations outside the UN Office and the Embassies of the US and Britain in Colombo to protest a resolution against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC over its alleged rights abuses during war with LTTE rebels.

Colombo, Western Province

Police announced a reward of LKR 1 million for anyone who is able to provide accurate information about LTTE suspect, Kajeeban Ponniah Selvanayagam alias Gopi who shot and injured a Police Sub Inspector on March 13 in Kilinochchi District.

Kilinochchi District, Northern Province

Major General Sudantha Ranasinghe, Commander of the SFHQ-KLN met the rehabilitated former combatants of the LTTE in Kilinochchi District and alerted the rehabilitated ex-combatants to external threats that would be directed at them by parties interested in sending them back to violent means.

Colombo, Western Province

D.B.S. Jeyaraj, a well-known Canadian Sri Lankan journalist in an article posted on his website revealed a plot to assassinate Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa or his brother Secretary of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa by the LTTE.

The Government proscribed LTTE and 15 other alleged front organizations - TRO, TCC, BTF, WTM, CTC, ATC, GTF, NCCT, TNC, TYO, WTCC, TGTE, TEPA, WTRF and HQ Group.

Colombo, Western Province

Military Spokesman Ruwan Wanigasuriya said foreign terrorist groups and several overseas organizations banned over suspicion that they were LTTE supporters could go to Courts and get their name cleared.

Vavuniya District, Northern Province

Four people including an Army Lance Corporal and three LTTE leaders were killed in a clash between SFs and suspected LTTE terrorist operatives in Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District in a search operation for the wanted LTTE suspect Ponniah Selvanayagam alias Gopi.

Colombo, Western Province

TID of Police interrogated Kapilan alias Nandhagopan, an overseas leader of LTTE arrested when he entered the country on March 6. He was in charge of LTTE's media division and fled from Sri Lanka when the war ended.

Colombo, Western Province

Police media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that Police arrested 65 persons in the past month (March) under suspicion of attempting to resuscitate the LTTE. Investigations are underway to arrest several local leaders of the LTTE who clandestinely work to reorganize the terror movement.

Colombo, Western Province

Army spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that the three LTTE leaders who were killed by the Army during the clash in Vavuniya District on April 10 are Ponniah Selvanayagam alias Gopi, Sundaralingam Kajeepan alias Thevihan and Navarathnam Navaneethan alias Appan.

Senior Police and Military officials denied that a soldier had also been killed in the clash between SFs and suspected LTTE terrorist operatives in the Nadunkarni area of Vavuniya District on April 10. They said the soldier died in friendly fire during a military exercise on the same evening.

Colombo, Western Province

Police media spokesman SSP Ajith Rohan said that law enforcement authorities will seek Interpol's assistance to arrest LTTE leaders operating from foreign countries to revive the defunct terrorist outfit in the island.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that Police has launched an investigation on the people who had links with former LTTE leaders Selvanayagam Kajeepan alias Gopi, Sundaralingam Kajeepan alias Thevihan and Navarathnam Navaneethan alias Appan.

Cabinet Spokesperson and Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Government is open for discussion with the organizations that were recently proscribed for allegedly having links with the LTTE.

Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that the Interpol is reported to have issued 40 'Red Notices' against the LTTE operatives living abroad.

External Affairs Ministry together with the Defence Ministry decided to brief the diplomatic community in Colombo next week on banning 16 Tamil diaspora groups including LTTE.

A LTTE suspect who was undergoing treatment at Vavuniya District Hospital under prison custody escaped. The 28-year-old suspect resident at Kudirippu in Vavuniya District was arrested on November 4, 2013 over an incident of having bombs in his possession.

External Affairs Ministry Publicity Division Director General A.M. Saddiq said that the External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris will request the cooperation of the diplomatic community when he meets the ambassadors and high commissioners in Colombo on April 24 on the recent proscription by the Sri Lankan Government of 16 organizations that have links with the LTTE.

The anti-terrorist division of Kilinochchi Police arrested a 63-year-old woman, a resident of Uruthipuram in Kilinochchi District for providing land in the North to suspected LTTE supporters.

Minister of External Affairs, G. L. Peiris briefed the Ambassadors and High Commissioners to give the diplomatic community authentic information regarding action taken by the Government against 16 organizations that have links with the LTTE and individuals involved in terrorist funding and other activity connected with plans to revive terrorism.

A man, suspected to be a close associate of the slain LTTE leader Ponniah Selvanayagam Kajeeban alias Gobi, was arrested by the TID in Jaffna District.

A Sinhala daily newspaper reported that 18 Intelligence Officers had been sent to 18 countries as part of an international operation against the LTTE rump organizations.

The Ministry of Defence and Urban Development denied that Intelligence Officers being sent to other countries to educate officials of those countries as part of an international operation against the LTTE rump organizations.

Colombo, Western Province

Military Spokesperson Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasooriya said that organized events of any form to commemorate LTTE terrorist killed in battle in the Northern Province or any other part of the country will not be allowed as it is illegal since LTTE is a banned organization.

Mullaitivu District, Northern Province

The Naval troops attached to the SLNS Gotabhaya of the Eastern Naval Command recovered the largest stock of LTTE pistol ammunition containing 120,000 of 9 x 19 mm KOPP ammunition, 2,750 of SG 12 Bore ammunition and 5,600 of 357 Magnum (Blazer) ammunition.

Colombo, Western Province

Sri Lankan Government's Anti-LTTE operations in Tamil areas in the country create fears of refugee outflow from Sri Lanka to Tamil Nadu, India.

Jaffna District, Northern Province

NPC members, identified as M.K. Sivajilingam and Ananthi Sasitharan had attempted to light camphor at the entrance of the closed building of the Council in Jaffna District to commemorate slain militants of the LTTE during the war.

Colombo, Western Province

Hundreds of Sri Lankans marched on the Norwegian embassy in Colombo to protest against Oslo''s support for remnants of the LTTE living abroad.

Colombo, Western Province

According to the BCGR sources, five years since the defeat of terrorism, Government has successfully rehabilitated and reintegrated most of the LTTE cadres who had surrendered to the SFs or were arrested by the authorities. The BCGR under the leadership of Major General K.J. Wijetillake has so far rehabilitated and reintegrated 11,947 ex-LTTE cadres out of a total of 12,303.

Colombo, Western Province

The Army Commander Lieutenant General Daya Rathnayaka said that Sri Lanka rehabilitated and socialized a large number of ex-LTTE cadres and pointed out that the concept implemented by Sri Lanka against the terrorism and the rehabilitation process is an example for the whole world.

Colombo, Western Province

Mohamed Muzammil, the media spokesman of NFF, urged the Government to take stern action against the MPs of the TNA for commemorating the deaths of LTTE cadres last week.

Colombo, Western Province

The main opposition party UNP in Parliament renewed its call for the prosecution of LTTE's chief weapon procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP or to hand him over to India for legal action for his alleged involvements in crimes committed there.

Colombo, Western Province

JHU General Secretary and Minister, Champika Ranawaka demanded Norway to immediately hand over Oslo-based LTTE leader Perinbanayagam Siwaparan alias Nediyavan to Sri Lankan authorities. He accused that Nediyavan who is believed to have financed the terrorist activities of LTTE, lives freely in Oslo despite the Interpol arrest warrant against him.

Colombo, Western Province

TNA leader R. Sampanthan condemned the Government's measure to designate several Tamil diaspora organizations and individuals as having links to the terrorist group LTTE.

Colombo, Western Province

Police Spokesman, SSP Ajith Rohana said that the three most wanted LTTE leaders, identified as Sandalinga Raja Dushanthan, Mahadevan Kiribakaran and Selvthurai Kiribavan arrested by the Malaysian Police have been brought to the country and are now in the custody of Sri Lankan authorities.

Colombo, Western Province

Police identified the three suspects as active members of LTTE before they fled to Malaysia. According to the Police one of the suspects Sandalinga Raja Dushanthan had joined the LTTE Political Wing in 1994 and later had extended his full support to the revival of the LTTE outfit. The second suspect, Mahadevan Kirubaharan, had joined the LTTE Music Band before he fled the country and the third suspect, Selvathurai Kirubananthan, had joined the Intelligence Network of Pottu Amman alias Shanmugalingam Sivashankar and had fled the country in 2006.

Colombo, Western Province

Senior security official said that an urgent review of UN procedures was necessary in the wake of the recent arrest and deportation of three LTTE cadres registered with the UNHCR in Malaysia. The official said that two of the LTTE cadres had received refugee status, while the third was in the process of securing the same and Sri Lankan government had never been consulted as regards the applications made by them, therefore an inquiry was necessary.

Jaffna, Northern Province

Jaffna Mayor Yogeswari Pathgunarajah prevented attempts by the TNA to commemorate the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran at Mullivaikal in Mullaitivu District, Northern Province.

Colombo, Western Province

The Retired Senior Police Officers' Association members have urged the 'Presidential Commission to Investigate into Complaints Regarding Missing Persons' to pursue the matter regarding the murder of 600 Policemen by LTTE in Ampara District in Eastern Province in June 1990.

Colombo, Western Province

BCGR said it has almost completed the rehabilitation of nearly 12,000 former LTTE cadres who either surrendered or were taken into custody following the end of the civil war in 2009. According to the Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Jagath Wijetilleke, there are 132 former LTTE cadres currently undergoing the one-year rehabilitation program that is jointly conducted by the Army and BCGR at the Poonthottam Rehabilitation Center in Vavuniya District of Northern Province. Following a recommendation by LLRC a special committee was also appointed to study the cases of detained LTTE suspects and expedite legal action where necessary.

Colombo, Western Province

Police arrested an individual, identified as Nandarasa Saundranayagam in the possession of nearly 15 kilograms of TNT explosives in the Madhu area of Mannar in Mannar District in Northern Province. A second suspect believed to be an explosive expert of LTTE, identified as Gunasekara Mudiyanselage Nilanka Jude Anthony alias Cyril Nilangam Jude Anthony alias Villango had escaped during the Police operation and remains at large. Rohana added that the suspect has knowledge of the landmines buried by the LTTE during the war in the area between Madhu and Kanagarayankulam as a protective barrier.

Colombo, Western Province

The Commissioner General of Rehabilitation Major General Jagath Wijetilleke said that about 40 former members of LTTE, who have successfully undergone rehabilitation under a Government programme, are likely to get employed in a construction firm in Singapore.

Colombo, Western Province

The Chairman of the 'Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons', Attorney Maxwell Paranagama said that most of the complaints on missing persons from Batticaloa District, Eastern Province held LTTE responsible for the disappearances and there were no allegations against SFs.

Colombo, Western Province

Former Norwegian Minister and Peace Envoy Erik Solheim, once a key negotiator in Sri Lanka's Oslo-mediated peace process, said that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's refusal to accept federalism and the constant infighting, between the two main political parties, the SLFP and the UNP were the two main obstacles to the Norway-brokered peace process.

The Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons recorded evidence in relation to the Kurukkalmadam massacre where the LTTE allegedly killed 163 Muslims in 1990s.

Representatives of the Retired Senior Police Officers' Association requested to the Chairman of the Presidential Commission Investigating Cases of Missing Persons, Maxwell Paranagama to investigate matters regarding the murder of 600 Police officers by LTTE in the Eastern Province in 1990. Over 600 Police officers served in Batticaloa and Ampara Police Divisions in the Eastern Province surrendered to the LTTE under the orders of the then President R. Premadasa who had agreed to a ceasefire with the rebels. Shortly afterwards their surrender on June 11, 1990 LTTE killed all the officers.

The UNHCHR Navi Pillay has appointed the team as mandated by the UNHRC to conduct a comprehensive investigation into the alleged war crimes committed by the SFs and LTTE during the last seven years of the civil war. Senior UN official Ms. Sandra Beidas will be the coordinator of the OHCHR investigative team which comprises 12 members, including two forensic experts, a legal analyst, a gender specialist and investigators.

LTTE 'Intelligence Unit' member Subramaniyam Ravi Chandran was arrested when he was hiding in Raigamwatte in Horana, Kalutara District of Western Province. SSP Ajith Rohana said that he is being detained for questioning. Subramaniyam Ravi Chandran had joined the LTTE in 2002.

A LTTE 'Sea Tiger Force' member, Thirunagarasu Pradeepan was arrested at the Katunayake Airport in Western Province when he was to take a flight to Qatar.

SI Nimal Piyatissa attached to the Sri Lankan President's Security Division arrested three LTTE cadres while they were filming the official residence of former President Chandrika Kumaratunga on Independence Avenue, Colombo on their mobile phones. Police recovered photographs and video clips of LTTE suicide cadres on the suspects' mobile phone. Later, the three suspects were remanded.

A Sri Lankan court in Kalawanchikudi of Batticaloa District in Eastern Province ordered to exhume a large number of grave sites in the Eastern Province following claims that the grave sites contain the bodies of scores of Muslims massacred by LTTE in 1990. The court, after examining a motion submitted by Abdul Majeed Mohammed, a resident of Kalawanchikudi, ordered the exhumation of the graves to begin on July 1, 2014. Mohammed in his complaint said LTTE kidnapped more than 100 Muslims in the area and subsequently killed them and buried in mass graves near the coast off Kurukkalmadam.

The Vavuniya High Court Judge convicted top LTTE cadre Kanagaraja Ravishankar in connection with three cases of illegal transportation of arms and missiles into the country from abroad. Ravishankar, a resident of Kilinochchi of Northern Province was sentenced to 30 years rigorous imprisonment. Ravishankar, had joined the LTTE in 1992 and was trained overseas by the organization as a ship's captain. According to police he had left Sri Lanka in 2005 and is now known to reside in Canada. SSP Ajith Rohana said Police would take steps to bring him back to Sri Lanka through diplomatic channels with the support of the international Police. He said according to UN Resolution 1327, he has been on red notice.

SSP Ajith Rohana said after the reorganization attempts of the LTTE led by Gopi, Appan and Thevian were exposed on March 8, 2014, the Police had arrested 51 suspects in connection with LTTE activities and there had been five females among them. He said as of today (June 25), a total of 110 suspects with LTTE links are in jail.

The Anuradhapura Special High Court Judge Khema Swarnadhipathy ordered to further detain two former militants of the 'Missile Brigade' of LTTE for bombing of a military aircraft 14 years ago, till July 22, 2014. The two LTTE cadres, Jegan alias Kulawan and Vallami alias Sinnathilakan, both residents of Irasathurai in Jaffna are suspected of shooting down an Antonov-34 aircraft flying from Palaly to Ratmalana on March 30, 2000 over Anuradhapura, North Central Province killing at least 40 people including 4 Russians. According to the Police, the two arrested two years ago in Kilinochchi in Northern Province had revealed that the rebels had fired missiles towards the aircraft from Wilpattu forests.

The Anuradhapura Special High Court Judge Khema Swarnadhipathi permitted the CID of Police to indict four militants of LTTE for the attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force Base and massacre of soldiers. They are accused of killing 14 Air Force and Army personnel, completely destroying 10 aircraft and partly damaging another six. Tamil Tigers launched an air and ground attack on the Anuradhapura Air Force Base on October 22, 2007. The Judge also permitted the CID to amend the charges of one accused, Rasalingam Thaboruban.

Government Spokesman and Media Minister, Keheliya Rambukwella said that some rehabilitated former LTTE combatants are now in the main stream politics while some others have also been recruited to the SFs.

Power and Energy Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi claimed that US President Barack Obama and British PM David Cameron had secured votes from LTTE supporters to come to power. She claimed that now Obama and Cameron are working according to the agenda of the LTTE supporters against Lankan Government. She also claimed that Cameron had sent letters to some countries seeking their support for the resolution on Sri Lanka at the UNHRC in Geneva. However she said President Mahinda Rajapaksa will not allow the LTTE to raise its head in Sri Lanka with the support of any international force.

The four LTTE militants arrested by the Malaysian Police on July 3 have been brought to Sri Lanka. Police media unit identified three of them as Edmond Singharaja alias Seelan, Angurukankanamlage Indika Sanjeewa alias Mohamed Sanjaya Abdul and Abdul Saleem Bin Mohamed.

The LTTE cadres arrested in Malaysia and extradited to Sri Lanka have spilled the beans on Tiger activists under questioning by the sleuths of the TID. They have told the interrogators that they had never thought that the LTTE would be defeated militarily in the North. They said the LTTE?had a lot of members in Malaysia. "We thought of rebuilding the LTTE organization. We commemorated the LTTE Heroes Day in Malaysia. Our efforts were all in vain. Our members are still in Jaffna."

The Presidential Commission investigating cases of missing persons in the North and East said that the LTTE was responsible for nearly 80 percent of the alleged abductions, of the cases already heard in four Districts except Jaffna. The LTTE was blamed for missing persons; 90 percent in Mullaitivu, 80 percent in Kilinochchi, 70 percent in Batticaloa and only 10 percent in the Jaffna District by the relatives of the deceased. A total of 19,284 written complaints had been received by the Commission so far.

Former cadres of the LTTE, undergoing rehabilitation, have recently visited the South. The Ministry of Rehabilitation and Prison Reforms has organized the tour of the South as a goodwill mission for the ex-LTTE members who are scheduled to be released soon after completing their rehabilitation.

Police Media Spokesperson's office said that a group of special officers from the TID arrested a second year student of the Management Faculty of the Sabaragamuwa University. Investigations have revealed that the youth, who is a resident of Jaffna, had maintained connections with the LTTE, for several years during the war. This student, who had been an active member during the final mission, has been sent for rehabilitation following the conclusion of the war.

Colombo, Western Province

Sri Lanka Defense Ministry spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya said that the persons and organizations that have been blacklisted under a special gazette notification by Sri Lanka Government can apply for clearance. Government designated 424 individuals and 16 organizations including the LTTE as terrorists under the UN Act No 45 of 1968. These persons were blacklisted due to their involvement in terrorist activities of the LTTE.

Colombo, Western Province

Minister of Petroleum, Anura Priyadarshana Yapa accused European nations of assisting the LTTE to build its international network. He said Europe like America is not happy with the defeat of the LTTE as they could not achieve what they wanted in Sri Lanka.

Anuradhapura, North Central Province

A former LTTE cadre accused of assassinating the former SLA senior official Major General Janaka Perera and 28 others in a suicide bomb attack in 2008 in Anuradhapura pleaded guilty. The second accused of the case, Shammuganathan Sudaharan, a former colonel of LTTE pleaded guilty for the killings before the North Central Province High Court judge Sunanda Kumara Rathnayaka and the judge accepted his guilty plea. He was further remanded and the sentencing was postponed to September 5.

Seven LTTE cadres who were rehabilitated at the Punthottam Rehabilitation Camp in Vavuniya, Northern Province were entrusted to their relatives. 11,970 LTTE cadres of the 12,298 who gave themselves up to the Army have so far been reintegrated into society.

Anuradhapura High Court sentenced Shanmuganadan, a former LTTE cadre to 20 years in rigorous imprisonment for the assassination of retired Major General Janaka Perera and 28 others in a suicide bomb attack in 2008.

Vavuniya District, Northern Province

CM of Northern Province, C V Wigneswaran, speaking at the convention of ITAK in Vavuniya District urged to use former women cadre of the LTTE in the ITAK's democratic movement.

Sri Lanka Police have uncovered vital information about individuals who were involved in giving LKR 202 million from the Kandy Trinity College funds to the LTTE. According to report, an old Trinitian Nishantha Priyalal Alwis in his complaint said that a sum of money had been donated to the LTTE during the tenure of a former Trinity College principal Rod Gilbert and Gilbert was deported after his connection with the LTTE was proven before the court. Alwis also said that a teacher and 11 students attached to Kandy Trinity College were arrested on suspicion of their connection with the LTTE. Police and CID are continuing further investigations.

The LTTE was considering the surrendering of several of its key members to the SFs during the final stages of the war, Northern Provincial councilor and widow of former LTTE Eastern Political Wing Head, Velayutham Sasitharan alias S. Elilan, Ananthi Sasitharan said. Ananthi Sasitharan said that a few days before the war ended, Elilan had informed her that he would be meeting LTTE's 'political wing head', Balasingham Nadesan with regard to the surrendering of some key members.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa handed over land permits to 20,000 persons and returned to 2352 women, gold jewelry which they had deposited in the "Tamil Eelam Bank" when the LTTE was running large parts of the Vanni region in Northern Province. More than 100 kg of gold and gold ornaments were recovered from the LTTE's banks by the Lankan SFs during Eelam War IV.

Northern Province

Sri Lankan SF's authorities in the Northern Province have urged the northern civilians, who are yet to claim their gold and other valuables recovered from the LTTE banks after the war, to make their claims at Civil Coordinating Offices. The SFs in the North are now in the process of returning the identified gold jewellery to the rightful owners.

Galle, Southern Province

Police Media Spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that Ten ex-LTTE cadres who underwent rehabilitation in Boossa and a one month basic training course in heavy vehicle operation including back hoe loaders and excavators successfully completed the course at the Vocational Training Centre in Galle, Southern Province. Arrangements will be made to find employment for them here or abroad. The training will continue for the other ex-LTTE cadres as well, SSP Rohana said.

Colombo, Western Province

The Government of Sri Lanka expressed concern over the decision of the ECJ to annul the EU regulations proscribing the LTTE. The MEA said that the ECJ judgment requires in-depth study by all the defendant parties. The Ministry statement said the island was confident that the European Commission and the EU member states would take the "best possible decision" on the future course of action to be taken in this regard.

Colombo, Western Province

Sri Lanka has decided to contest the decision by the ECJ to annul the sanctions placed on the LTTE and will send an envoy to seek support in the union against the ruling. Reports said that Sri Lanka's EU Ambassador Rodney Perera is to travel to Strasbourg on October 20 to attend the EU parliament's plenary session and to mobilize two key committees, foreign affairs and security and defense.

Colombo, Western Province

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has charged that the recent decisions taken by the EU are a result of the attempts by the opposition parties to oust him. He accused that certain politicians are working with the pro-LTTE Tamil diaspora to oust him at the much anticipated presidential election."European Union has lifted the ban on the LTTE. It happened within two weeks of certain opposition leaders having talks with the pro-LTTE diaspora, "the President said.

Colombo, Western Province

V Anandasangaree, President of the TULF has warned that the decision by the General Court of EU to lift the sanctions on LTTE will help to revive the vanquished outfit in Sri Lanka's Tamil-dominated Northern Province. He said that "Pro-LTTE groups both within the island and overseas have received a shot in the arm, and will now openly propagate the LTTE's cause of separatism and terrorism."

Colombo, Western Province

The main constituent party of Sri Lanka's ruling alliance, SLFP said the removing of the ban on LTTE by the EU is the result of continuous mission against the country since the Government defeated the LTTE five years ago. The party pointed out that occurrence of several incidents just before the EU Court's decision is an indication of this continuous effort.

Colombo, Western Province

According to the national radio, the Government has decided to submit an appeal to the ECJ requesting to annul the decision taken by the lower court to lift sanctions on LTTE.

Colombo, Western Province

A patriotic movement in the country, the Alliance for National Unity and Inter Religious Corporation said that they are prepared to brief the diplomatic community in Colombo about the consequences of the removal of LTTE ban by the EU. The leader of the movement, Kumburugamuwe Wajira thero said that EU is indirectly assisting the revival of terrorism in this country by removal of the ban and urged the public to unite against the move.

Colombo, Western Province

Military Spokesman Brigadier Ruwan Wanigasuriya during the weekly media briefing held in Colombo said that the lifting of ban of the LTTE in the EU region will only help to increase the operational ability including fund collecting by the terrorist group. The Spokesman said that the LTTE through its network of 'Sencholai' schools promote their doctrine of separatism and inculcate a negative image of the country, especially in the minds of the children of the Tamil expatriate community.

Colombo, Western Province

UNP General Secretary Tissa Attanayake said that with the EU Court lifting the ban on the LTTE, the Government may use LTTE assets through the former LTTE leader Kumaran Pathmanathan for a presidential election. "According to the Government, LTTE assets and funds are worth over SLR 200 billion. They can say that it couldn't get the funds because of the ban on the LTTE back then. But there is no longer a ban on the LTTE from the EU. Therefore LTTE leaders have access to the funds," Attanayake said.

Colombo, Western Province

The Government denied the claims that President Mahinda Rajapaksa had met LTTE supporters during his last visit to the US. External Affairs Minister, G.L Peiris said in the Parliament that he was with the President during the US tour and he can guarantee that the President did not meet any pro-LTTE diaspora members.

Colombo, Western Province

Sri Lanka Police's ITD arrested a suspected member of the LTTE, identified as Somasundaram Wasantha Kumar who returned from Qatar. Police media spokesman SSP Ajith Rohana said that the arrested Sri Lankan expatriate was an ethnic Tamil and the suspect tiger cadre has not been rehabilitated after the end of war. Wasantha Kumar has migrated to Qatar and worked there for a long time after the end of civil war in Sri Lanka. Ajith Rohana added that the suspect had closely associated with three LTTE terrorists, identified as Gobi, Appan and Thevian who were killed April, 2014 in Weli Oya, Mullaithivu District in Northern Province as they were trying to revive the now defunct terrorist organization.

Colombo, Western Province

The ECJ reassesses the removal of the ban on Sri Lanka's Tamil Tiger error group, LTTE in the EU before 15 January 2015, according to the French Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jean-Paul Monchau. The French Envoy said that lifting the restrictions on the LTTE is the decision of the ECJ at the moment and the ECJ will review the matter before 15 January.

Colombo, Western Province

Sri Lanka's Marxist party, JVP plans to appeal to the CID to conduct an investigation on the External Affairs Ministry's, alleged transaction with the LTTE for the renovations of the Geneva mission. It has been alleged that the current Secretary of External Affairs Ministry, Kshenuka Seneviratne, has improperly awarded a contract for the renovation of the official residence of the Permanent Representative of Sri Lanka in Geneva in 2009.

Colombo, Western Province

Leader of Sri Lanka's Opposition and the UNP, Ranil Wickremesinghe said that he had asked the European Council to appeal against the ruling given by the General Court of the EU favoring the lifting of sanctions against the LTTE. Wickremesinghe said he has written to the EU High Representative Federica Mogherini to file an appeal against the EU General Court's verdict to lift sanctions on the LTTE.

Mannar District, Northern Province

A rehabilitated LTTE cadre, identified as Krishnasami Naguleswaran has been killed by unidentified gunmen in front of his house at Wellankulam in Mannar District. According to the local Sinhala daily the slain former cadre of the LTTE was a fighter who had participated in a number of attacks against the Army. Mannar Police are investigating the incident.

Colombo, Western Province

President Mahinda Rajapaksa accused that Norway has funded the LTTE during the island's three-decade civil war and demanded an investigation into the involvement of the former Norwegian Government. The President said that "They (Norway) gave money to the LTTE. The Norwegian Government must investigate. We have evidence on how they funded the terrorists". He charged that the former Norwegian peace envoy Eric Solheim has supported the LTTE and now the former Norwegian Minister is getting ready to testify against Sri Lanka at the UNHRC led investigation.

Simonstown / South Africa

A South African Tamil group has filed criminal charges against General Srilal Weerasooriva, a former Sri Lankan General for alleged war crimes during the civil war with the Tamil Tiger terrorist group LTTE. General Weerasooriva is in South Africa as part of an international delegation attending the Association of Military Christian Fellowships - Global Interaction 2014 at the naval base of Simonstown.