Nabbing Pathmanathan:

LTTE network shattered forever - Defence Secretary

by Dhaneshi YATAWARA

Gotabhaya Rajapaksa

The arrest of LTTE mastermind Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP has thwarted completely the possibilities of LTTE raising its ugly head again according to Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa. Defence Secretary Rajapaksa commenting on the arrest of Pathmanathan told the Sunday Observer that it was hard work done for nearly two months with the help of several countries, that led to the arrest of the LTTE mastermind. With his arrest any possibility of the now defunct terror outfit regrouping again has been thwarted. According to Rajapaksa every detail was carefully monitored to make this ‘prize catch’.

Pathmanathan was busy reestablishing the LTTE. He even went to the extent of forming a `transnational’ government. However, the timely and the prompt action made the arrest of KP imminent shattering all his future plans, Rajapaksa said.

Commenting further on the arrest he said “Several countries rendered their support in arresting K. P. Therefore, the support of those countries was praiseworthy.

The flawless international relations established by President Mahinda Rajapaksa played an important role in apprehending the LTTE `strong man’.

“It is vital at this juncture to protect the details and other information relating to countries and the officials who had played their part in nabbing Pathmanathan,” Rajapaksa said.

The Defence Secretary said, that the LTTE was considered one of the deadliest and elusive terrorist outfits in the world and now it has been rooted out not only in Sri Lanka but even globally following the arrest of K.P.

“The outside forces which helped the LTTE against the sovereignty of Sri Lanka will now learn a bitter lesson with the arrest of Pathmanathan,” the Defence Secretary said.