Sri Lanka urges more action against terrorist front after US ban

Nov 16, 2007 (LBO) – Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama Friday called on the international community to take action against front organizations of the Tamil Tigers after the United States froze the assets of a relief agency. "The US government becomes the first foreign government to take tangible action against an LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) front organization," he told parliament, referring to the US decision to freeze the funds of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).

"The action by the United States shows with no uncertainty that the TRO was not focused solely on rehabilitation but also on financing LTTE’s arms procurement."

Bogollagama said the US precedent should encourage other countries which are also investigating LTTE front organisations including the TRO particularly Australia, Canada, Denmark, France and the UK - to take tangible action against them.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury Thursday announced it would freeze the U.S.-held assets of the TRO, which it said is a charitable organization that acts as a front to facilitate fundraising and procurement for the LTTE.

The U.S. decision also bans Americans from engaging in transactions with the TRO.

Bogollagama