LTTE cadres involved in serious crimes will not be released

LTTE cadres who have been convicted of serious crimes nor those against whom trials are on ongoing in courts will be released by the Government, Justice Minister Wijedasa Rajapaksha said today.

He said that the Government was considering the release of only 24 former LTTE cadres against whom no charges have been filed so far and are in remand custody in connection with minor offences.

He said that there had been 243 persons who were held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of whom 39 were released in November.  Of the remaining 204 LTTE cadres, 56 have been convicted while there are ongoing trials against 124 others, he said.

(File photo - more than 480 former LTTE male cadres leaving the Vavuniya detention centre in 2011 after they were rehabilitated and released yesterday. They were given vocational training and they are seen carrying their boxes of mechanical tools. Pic by Priyantha Hewage)

He said that the Government would not interfere in these cases and the court would decide their fate.

The Minister said that some misleading information has been circulated that there is an attempt to release LTTE cadres who were involved in serious crimes but there is no truth to these claims.

The Minister also said that the Government plans the abolish the Prevention of terrorism act (PTA) after anew anti terrorism law is elected in keeping with international regulations. 

Chandani Kirinde