Govt. says sufficient evidence available to prove LTTE groups still active overseas

• Issues statement following tribunal’s open judgement on UK Govt.’s ban of LTTE 
• Says Sri Lanka was not a party to proceedings at the POAC, could not make direct representations
• Govt. will continue to closely monitor the progress of the case in the UK

The Government yesterday said it has sufficient evidence to prove that the remnants of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and groups aligned with its terrorist ideology are active in foreign countries, working to incite violence and destabilise the country.  This is following the Open Judgement by the Proscribed Organizations Appeals Commission (POAC) of the United Kingdom on 21 October. The decision of the POAC arises from an appeal filed in May 2019 by an LTTE front organisation challenging the decision of the UK Secretary of State for Home Affairs dated 8 March 2019, which refused the application by the group to de-proscribe the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) from the list of Proscribed Organizations under the UK Terrorism Act of 2000.

The Foreign Ministry, Public Diplomacy Division issuing a statement said that the Government of Sri Lanka was not a party to these proceedings at the POAC and could not make direct representations, the Government has assisted the Government of the United Kingdom by providing relevant information with regard to continued terrorist activities. 

The Open Judgement of the POAC while allowing the Appeal, provides for further hearings.

The Government of Sri Lanka will continue to closely monitor the progress of the case in the UK.

“Sri Lanka remains vigilant of threats to its national security as well as that of the region, and will always support members of the international community in the global fight against terrorism,” the statement said.