A top LTTE leader, who is wanted in India in connection with the assassination of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, was on Thursday barred from leaving Sri Lanka by a court.
Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP, who took over the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) following the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran, was barred from leaving the country by the Court of Appeal.
The court granted the motion of order as a sub-decision based upon a petition filed by the Marxist party, Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). The JVP had filed a petition seeking KP’s arrest.
KP, who was the chief international arms procurer for the LTTE, was arrested in Malaysia by Sri Lankan authorities and brought to the country.
He is wanted in India for his involvement in Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination in 1991. He was on an Interpol watch list for murder of the former Indian Prime Minister.
Since his arrest, KP has been spending time under government care and was put in charge of a non-governmental organisation handling conflict refugees and victims.
Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s administration came under criticism for pardoning KP while persecuting LTTE suspects for lesser offences.
After Mr. Rajapaksa’s defeat, the JVP has sought to force the current government into action against KP.
He is believed to possess information on the LTTE’s vast international assets.
