International community tried to save LTTE chief at the last moment, Sri Lanka government says

May 24, Colombo: Sri Lanka government today disclosed the details over the appeal made by foreign powers to save the former LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran at the last stages of the war.

Speaking at a function held in Matara this morning Transport Minister Dullas Alahapperuma said that a foreign country has appealed the Sri Lanka government at the last moment.

According to the Minister, this country has handed over to the authorities a list of 50 names of LTTE leaders seeking to escape.

However, Minister Alahapperuma did not disclose the name of this country, but he said that the entire nation would know who it is in the near future.

He said this appeal clearly showed that certain foreign powers have supported the LTTE during the last three decades to fight against Sri Lanka government and its people.

According to a recent column by a Tamil journalist in a Sri Lankan daily, LTTE's chief negotiator Kumaran Padmanathan alias 'KP' was in constant touch with the 'diplomats of at least four western nations, UN functionaries in Geneva and New York, a foreign cabinet minister and a few prominent western journalists' trying to get the LTTE leaders out at the final moment.