Published on - 11/20/2007
INDIA\'S DEMAND for extradition of the LTTE leader V Prabakaran is under the consideration of the Sri Lanka government but the question arises only after the terrorist leader is captured, a top official said here today.
“The demand from India is under consideration. We need Prabakaran in Sri Lanka for the Central Bank bombing in 1996 for which he has already been sentenced for a long prison term of over 100 years. We have to first get him to be able to consider India\'s request for his extradition,\' senior Sri Lankan government official told Press Trust of India.
The official was reacting to a question on Indian foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon\'s letter to Janata party President Subramanian Swamy where he said New Delhi had from time to time sought Prabakaran\'s extradition.
The Foreign secretary, in a letter dated November 13, told Swamy that there has been no change in the government\'s policy towards the LTTE which is a banned terrorist organization.
\'The government has made formal requests for the extradition of V Prabakaran, leader of the LTTE, to the government of Sri Lanka from time to time.
The government of Sri Lanka has informed us that our request is receiving their consideration,\' Menon said.
We are not in variance with Mr Menon\'s letter. It is absolutely correct. We have been getting requests from time to time from India on Prabakaran\'s extradition.
But we have to lay our hands on him. Question of extradition arises after we apprehend him,\' the Sri Lankan official said. (Courtesy: The Island)
