NATIONAL Intelligence chief Maj Gen Kapila Hendewitharane yesterday said that media institutions should be more responsible in disseminating news as some of the news items published, broadcast or telecast are falsehoods which are detrimental to national security and the ongoing operations and investigations conducted by the government intelligence agencies.
Addressing the media at a hurriedly- called news conference, Hendewithrane denied allegations that the government had pocketed the LTTE money deposited in 600 accounts in various banks and financial institutions overseas as well as other assets possessed by the Tigers along with the ships registered by the now decimated terrorist organization, as claimed by a Opposition politician.
The Intelligence Chief in particular referred to a news item telecast, that the government is mum about the remaining five ships owned by the LTTE and nothing is said about what happened to the money deposited in the 600 LTTE accounts overseas.
Henedewitharane warned the media institutions to refrain from highlighting what is simply uttered by politicians and those with vested interests as "the falsehoods spread by these elements are being monitored by other countries and it will greatly hamper our efforts to acquire remaining LTTE assets."
Hendewitharane said: :We have been able to bring home one of the ships owned by the terrorist organization and are working with other countries and agencies to acquire the remaining four ships, but we cannot give a definite time frame."
Though they were owned by the LTTE, these vessels are registered under the names of front organizations, he pointed out.
"We gained possession of the LTTE ship which is now anchored in Colombo on Velupillai Prabhakaran’s birthday, he disclosed.’
Earlier the media said that the government is planning to acquire 11 aircraft owned by the LTTE which are in Eritrea and it has become a blow to our intelligence operations, the Maj Gen explained.
He also said that most reports in the media about top LTTE cadre, KP, was not true and he is being interrogated only by three officers including himself and no one else.
Responding to a query whether some of the LTTE intelligence cadres have escaped to other countries, he answered in the affirmative, and added that they (the LTTE), are waiting for an opportune moment to revive the organization and we cannot discount this possibility.
Asked about LTTE operative Rudrakumar living in the US, he said that Rudrakumar has provided money to the terrorist organization and now it is being investigated by the US authorities. (Courtesy: The Island)
