Ban on several ex LTTE front groups lifted

The Government has lifted the ban on several former LTTE front groups through a gazette notification published by the Government Printer on Friday.

Signed by the Secretary to the Ministry of Defence as the Competent Authority, the gazette notification repeals the gazette issued by the former government listing at least 15 organizations over alleged links with the LTTE. The amended list issued on Friday removes the ban on the Global Tamil Forum (GTF), the British Tamil Forum (BTF), Australian Tamil Congress (ATC) and the Canadian Tamil Congress (CTC), among others. The new gazette notification has also lifted the ban on the head of the Global Tamil Forum, Father S.J.Emmanuel. However, the Transnational Government of Tamil Eelam (TGTE) and its leader, former LTTE negotiator V.Rudrakumaran, remain on the list as proscribed organizations and individuals. The new government, after taking office this year, said it will de-list some Tamil diaspora groups in order to seek their support to work with Sri Lanka. Foreign Minister MangalaSamaraweera also had talks with the GTF in the presence of the Tamil National Alliance and former Norwegian peace envoy Erik Solheim in London this year. The GTF and other Tamil diaspora groups are to be invited to Sri Lanka to attend a diaspora festival set to be organized by the government. While most diaspora groups had welcomed the initiatives of the new government, the TGTE continues to be critical of Sri Lanka and is pushing for an Eelam State. The Mahinda Rajapaksa government banned several organizations operating on foreign soil as foreign terrorist organizations, utilising the UN Security Council Resolution 1373 which was brought about by the Unites States on September 28, 2001 after the attack on the New York twin towers on September 11, 2001. The then government raised concerns over the alleged activities of the Tamil diaspora saying they could fund another war in Sri Lanka. However, the new government said it was willing to negotiate with the diaspora and look at their concerns and work with them instead of sidelining them.