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Wanted SL terror suspect living as Canadian citizen

19 August 2016 12:25 pm - 8     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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An internationally wanted Sri Lankan accused of terrorist activities is living just outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) as a Canadian citizen, CTV Toronto reported on Thursday.

It said the case raises questions about the weight of Interpol notices as well as how the Canadian government deals with people they believe belong to terror groups.

The CTV Toronto had received a tip that a man named in an Interpol red notice may be living in the GTA.

The red notice was issued in 2010 for the then-43-year-old Sri Lankan named Ravishankar Kanagarajah. The notice currently on Interpol's website lists the wanted party as Kanagaraja Ravishankar. His charges are listed as "Terrorism" and he is wanted by authorities in Sri Lanka.

According to media Ravishankar was convicted and sentenced in absentia to 30 years imprisonment for transporting guns and explosives from North Korea to Sri Lanka for the LTTE in 2014. The LTTE has been considered a terrorist entity by the Canadian government since 2006.

A man living under the slightly different name of Ravisangar Kanagarajah is listed as the director of Siya Shipping Company Ltd.

According to several people found at the Brampton address listed for the company, Kanagarajah used to live at there, but recently moved to the Cambridge area.

A woman who identified herself as Kanagarajah's sister-in-law confirmed Monday Kanagarajah currently lives in her Kitchener home, along with his brother-in-law, having recently separated from his wife in Brampton. Several attempts to reach Kanagarajah, however, were unsuccessful. According to his brother-in-law and sister-in-law, he was driving a transport truck and unreachable when CTV Toronto showed up at his Kitchener home twice this week.

CTV Toronto was ultimately put in touch with his attorney, human rights lawyer Paul Copeland.

Copeland, as well as family members, confirmed Kanagarajah is the man listed in the Interpol red notice and is currently a Canadian citizen. It is unknown under what circumstances Kanagarajah was granted citizenship.

"He's a Canadian citizen, he's here lawfully, I've never heard an allegation that he used a different name," Copeland said.

According to Copeland, the Canadian government attempted to revoke Kanagarajah's passport in recent years, in part due to the Interpol red notice, but ultimately halted the process because Kanagarajah's passport had expired.

Copeland argued that Kanagarajah does not amount to a terrorist, nor should he be considered a threat to the Canadian public.

"I think the civil war in Sri Lanka did not fit within the definition of terrorism, generally speaking," Copeland said. "I would not regard him (Kanagarajah) as a terrorist."

Meanwhile, the Citizenship and Immigration Canada refused to comment on any aspect of Kanagarajah's case citing ‘Privacy Laws.’ Terrorism-related convictions are grounds for citizenship revocation in Canada.


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  Comments - 8

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  • Laljee/Qatar Friday, 19 August 2016 12:45 PM

    Mr.copeland will soon realize when ISIS start fire works in Canada. He still has not seen real terrorist 's.

    waco Friday, 19 August 2016 12:59 PM

    Canada is not that far away from a Eelam.

    Chaminda Friday, 19 August 2016 02:23 PM

    Canada will learn a lesson very bad way very soon.

    Aba Jayasekera Friday, 19 August 2016 02:56 PM

    Why transport weapons in 2014 ?. I thought the war was over in 2009

    usaguy Friday, 19 August 2016 03:38 PM

    this is just one but there are hundreds of them in Canada. Canada gave these terrorists asylum. they can have their Elam in Canada via DM Android App

    Coconut Republic Friday, 19 August 2016 03:58 PM

    Good observations. Probably this is for Mara team on tsunami funds.

    daily boru Friday, 19 August 2016 04:48 PM

    there are many LTTE terrorists gone abroad during MARA's regime.

    Jacoob Others Saturday, 20 August 2016 09:44 AM

    Other terrorists opted to remain in Srilanka


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