Lanka gets 'valuable information' from new LTTE chief

Colombo: In an unusual move, Sri Lanka's powerful Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa himself grilled detained new LTTE chief Kumaran Pathmanathan about the international connections of the Tamil Tigers and is said to have extracted some "valuable information".

Gotabhaya, the brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, told a meeting here on Monday that he had asked some questions to Pathmanathan. The fight against the Tiger rebels will continue till its international operations are "completely defeated", he had said.

The Daily Mirror newspaper reported today that Pathmanathan, the chief arms procurer of the LTTE who was detained last week and is in the custody of the Sri Lankan Security Services, had met Gotabhaya.

"It transpired that at the meeting that went on for a little more than an hour, KP had disclosed (to the Defence Secretary) valuable and detailed information regarding the international connections of the LTTE network -- in response to questions by the Defence Secretary," the newspaper said.
It said several high ranking defence officials were also present at the meeting.

Source: PTI
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