UNP renews call to prosecute KP

The main opposition United National Party (UNP) yesterday in Parliament renewed its call for the prosecution of LTTE’s chief weapons procurer Kumaran Pathmanathan alias KP or to hand him over to India for legal action for his alleged involvements in crimes committed there.

UNP parliamentarian Ravi Karunanayake, who seconded the no-confidence motion against the Government, said KP was responsible for the killing of 78,100 people including the members of the security forces and the police and therefore he should be prosecuted forthwith instead of pampering him under the care of government authorities.

KP was arrested in August, 2009 and brought to Sri Lanka. He was the main weapons procurer for the LTTE before it was defeated in May 2009.
Mr. Karunanayake said KP was involved in drug trafficking as a means of raising funds for the LTTE.

“Today, the government is silent, and pampers KP. The government vowed to confiscate 19 ships that belonged to KP. What has happened to them today?” he asked.

The UNP moved the no-confidence motion against the Government , accusing it of failing to contain what it called ‘the international drug trafficking cartel’ operating across Sri Lanka with the backing of some ruling party politicians.

Mr. Karunanayake said drugs were detected from time to time in 48 containers and 23 air packages.

“Twenty two women and 23 men were arrested in connection with drug trafficking .We would like to know what action was taken against them,” Mr. Karunanayake said. (Kelum Bandara and Yohan Perera)