Tamil MP arrested in Sri Lanka for LTTE links

Sri Lankan authorities have arrested a pro-LTTE Tamil parliamentarian for alleged links to the Tamil Tigers and violation of the country’s Emergency Regulations, a media report said.

Sri Lankan authorities have arrested a pro-LTTE Tamil parliamentarian for alleged links to the Tamil Tigers and violation of the country’s Emergency Regulations, a media report said on Tuesday.

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The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) conducting investigations into LTTE activities yesterday produced Sathasivam Kanagaratnam, the lawmaker of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), before the Colombo Chief Magistrate and Additional District Judge Nisantha Hapuarachchi.

The CID said the MP is alleged to have violated the Emergency Regulations and assisted the LTTE, the state-run Daily News reported. The authorities are looking into his links with the LTTE, the report said.

Kanagaratnam, who has represented the Wanni district in the Parliament since April 2004, was arrested by the CID recently while moving with the trapped civilians from the uncleared areas. He was trapped in Mullaitivu for almost nine months.

“The CID has commenced an investigation against the MP who is alleged to have been involved with LTTE terrorist activities under the detention orders issued on May 21 by Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa,” the paper said.