New report exposes LTTE activities in Canada

Canada was one of the top sources of funding for the LTTE, providing up to $12-million a year, says a secret intelligence report published in the Canadian newspaper The National Post.

The Intelligence Assessment was written by the Ottawa-based Integrated Threat Assessment Centre, which consists of representatives of CSIS, RCMP, Foreign Affairs, the military and other agencies. The report is titled ‘LTTE threat to Canada’.

"Canada's Tamil community has been among the LTTE's largest sources of funds, having contributed up to $10-to $12-million annually in past years," the report says.

The report was written in June, during the final months of a decisive Sri Lankan military offensive. Canada began investigating LTTE fundraising efforts in 2002.

"The LTTE through its many front organizations in other countries, including Canada, has conducted extensive fundraising and other activities to support its efforts in Sri Lanka," the report says.

The tactics used to collect money were "often coercive," it said, naming the Toronto-based World Tamil Movement as their leading front in Canada.

"As such, the WTM has been instrumental in fundraising in Canada on behalf of the LTTE."

"The LTTE's primary interest in Canada is as a major source of funds, mostly contributed by the large Canadian Tamil population," says the report.