SL still considers reorganization of LTTE to be a top threat – US

By Sunil Jayasiri  

Although there were no terrorist incidents reported in Sri Lanka in 2021, the Sri Lankan government still considers the reorganization of the LTTE to be a top threat, the Department of State said in the 2021 Country Reports on Terrorism released Monday.  

“While the rise of radicalization and extremism are security concerns in Sri Lanka, government security officials concerned that the legacy of LTTE could inspire terrorism in Sri Lanka and throughout the diaspora internationally,” the report stated.  

“LTTE’s legacy leaves some government security officials concerned that it could inspire terrorism in Sri Lanka and throughout the diaspora internationally. The government was cooperative in engaging on counter terrorism and attended several meetings of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS as observers,” the State Department said.  

It said Sri Lanka has continued efforts to enhance its counterterrorism capabilities and to improve border security, including through engagement with the United States and other international partners.  

However, efforts were somewhat hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic and a government focus on opening the country for economic recovery.   
The United States has discussed strategies with Quad country and like-minded partners on how to support Sri Lanka in countering terrorism, it said.  

The report further stated that The Government of Sri Lanka continued to use the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), enacted in 1979 as a wartime measure, enabling the police to exercise broad powers to search, arrest, and detain terrorist suspects for investigation.   Sri Lanka implemented the Cyber Security Bill and the Defense Cyber Command Bill to strengthen cyber security against cyber-facilitated acts of terrorism.  

Meanwhile, the report also said that the LTTE’s international network of sympathizers and financial support has persisted.  

The LTTE’s financial network of support continued after the group’s military defeat in 2009. The LTTE - a U.S. designated Foreign Terrorists Organization that fought the government for 26 years until its military defeat in 2009 - has employed charities as fronts to collect and divert funds for its activities, the report added.