India yet to officially notify SL Police over the arrest

• Bringing them to Sri Lanka should be coordinated through bilateral and diplomatic discussion between the two countries

By Darshana Sanjeewa Balasuriya 

Seven out of nine Sri Lankans arrested by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from the special camp for Sri Lankan Tamil refugees at Tamil Nadu’s Tiruchirappalli over their alleged involvement in drugs and arms smuggling to revive the LTTE, were issued Interpol red notices, police said yesterday. 

Although the reports over the arrest of nine Sri Lankans were true, the Sri Lankan Police had not yet been officially informed by the Indian authority over the arrest, Police Spokesman SSP Nihal Thalduwa said. 

Those arrested included C Gunashekharan alias Guna and Pushparajah alias Pookutti Kanna. They were working in close association with Haji Salim, a drug and arms supplier based in Pakistan. 

The arrests were made in connection with a case registered suo-motu by the agency on July 8 and were followed up with raids at the premises of the accused and suspects in Chennai, Thiruppur, Chengalpattu and Thiruchirapally districts in the state. 

Besides Gunashekharan and Pushparajah, the others arrested are Mohammad Asmin, Alahapperumage Sunil Gamini Fonseka Kottaghamini alias Sunil Gamini alias Neelakandan, Stanly Kennady Fernando, Ladiya Chandrasena, Dhanukka Roshan, Vella Suranka alias Gamage Suranga Pradeep alias Surang and Thilipan alias Dileepan. 

“India has not yet officially informed Sri Lankan Police about the arrest. But the arrest is true. If they have committed any wrongdoing in India, the Indian government will present them to the court. Bringing them to Sri Lanka should be coordinated through bilateral and diplomatic discussion between the two countries. Also, we are seeking the Attorney General’s advice in this regard,” SSP Thalduwa said.