The LTTE has included its Ampara-Batticaloa political chief Kausalyan in a delegation undertaking a European tour as part of its strategy to emphasise its control over the Ampara-Batticaloa region.
But his colleague former Ampara-Batticaloa chief T. Ramesh was under investigation over what a senior security official said was a massive fraud. According to monitored LTTE radio messages, Ramesh had misappropriated Rs. 15 million. But his successor Banu had managed to recover Rs. 13 million, the official said. Ramesh is in Kilinochchi.
Kausalyan boarded an Air Force helicopter with LTTE political chief S. P. Thamilchelvan, head of Thamileelam police, P. Nadesan, head of judiciary, Para and Secretary General of LTTE Peace Secretariat, Pulithevan, on Tuesday afternoon.
The government deployed a Bell 412, a four-rotor version of the Bell 212 exclusively used for VVIP/VIP transport, to airlift the group.
Authoritative sources said as the entire delegation wasn’t able to board the chopper, a few had to take the overland route to Bandaranaike International Airport. The delegation stayed several hours at a nearby hotel under heavy security before taking a flight out of the BIA. The delegation is expected to be away for about three weeks. (SF)
