Bogus LTTE revealed

 Aug 30, 2015

In the course of its investigations into the abduction and disappearance of lankaenews website journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda, the CID has found that the Sri Lanka Army’s intelligence unit had maintained a bogus LTTE group.

Members of this group, run with the directions of the defence ministry, were members of TOSI, the LTTE’s intelligence wing who had surrendered to the Army, and intelligence personnel proficient in the Tamil language.

It had maintained a camp at a jungle in Giritale, and Ekneligoda had visited the place several times, one of the arrested members of Army intelligence, ‘Thavendran’ (Sumathipala Suresh Kumar) has revealed.

This group had been run cleverly without allowing room for suspicion, and it had maintained links with several LTTE leaders. In order to maintain links with the LTTE in a trusted manner and on its orders, this group had carried out several terrorist operations in the south, information has come to light.

The group is still maintaining links with the Diaspora and with other associates of the LTTE, while fronting as the LTTE, say defence sources.

It had been used after the war to carry out political murders. This group comprised of a network of around 650 intelligence members.

Thavendran admits

Thavendran had served under LTTE intelligence wing TOSI’s leader Gnanavel, and after surrendering to the military around June 2009, he had engaged in several Army intelligence operations.

He has had revealed details, including a leading media organization and several other southern organizations and individuals of the south, with whom he has had connections.

Based on information given by him, former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and ex-Army chief Sarath Fonseka will be questioned. Also, statements will be recorded in the coming days from former Army commander Jagath Jayasuriya and Army intelligence personnel Maj. Gen. Kapila Hendavitarana, Maj. Gen. Amal Karunasekara, Maj. Gen. Janmika Liyanage and Brig. Wanniarachchi, say police headquarters sources.

Army shaken!
The defence secretary on August 27 sanctioned the detention of Army intelligence unit’s Lt. Col. Kumara Ratnayake, Lt. Col. Siriwardena, Staff Sergeant Rajapakse and Corporal Jayalath in connection with Ekneligoda’s disappearance.

Previously, a Sergeant Major of the Army, Thavendran and another Tamil were arrested on suspicion.

Top military officials have asked the government not to betray its intelligence officers, who had played a key role in the military defeat of the LTTE. If that does not happen, they warn that top secret information regarding military operations in the north could be exposed.

When contacted, a top official at the police headquarters said that if the government did not interfere with the CID investigation, several crimes committed during the war and the identities of those responsible, would be revealed.

Subhash Jayawardena