Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05COLOMBO1619
2005-09-13 10:32:00
SECRET//NOFORN
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:  

AUSTRALIANS INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE LTTE ATTEMPT TO

Tags:  PTER PINR CVIS EWWT CE AS LTTE 
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S E C R E T COLOMBO 001619 

SIPDIS

NOFORN

NEW DELHI ALSO FOR LEGATT AND USCUSTOMS: JDOZIER, GRISING
AND KSTEPHENSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2015
TAGS: PTER PINR CVIS EWWT CE AS LTTE
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIANS INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE LTTE ATTEMPT TO
PURCHASE SHIP IN AUSTRALIA

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

S E C R E T COLOMBO 001619

SIPDIS

NOFORN

NEW DELHI ALSO FOR LEGATT AND USCUSTOMS: JDOZIER, GRISING
AND KSTEPHENSON

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/12/2015
TAGS: PTER PINR CVIS EWWT CE AS LTTE
SUBJECT: AUSTRALIANS INVESTIGATE POSSIBLE LTTE ATTEMPT TO
PURCHASE SHIP IN AUSTRALIA

Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead
for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (S/NF) We have been advised by the Australian High
Commission here in Colombo that it has alerted authorities
in Canberra to what appears to be an effort by a front
company of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to
purchase a small cargo ship in Australia. Without sharing
full details with us, our Australian colleagues have told
us that the matter came to light as a result of coordination
between their immigration and commercial sections and that
some Sri Lankan "political figures" (including a Muslim
member of Parliament from the opposition United National
Party) may be involved. The matter is now under
investigation by Australian law enforcement agencies. The
Australians tell us they have been coordinating this with
Sri Lankan intelligence agencies.


2. (S/NF) The name of what the Australians call the
"pseudo-LTTE shipping company" is Liverpool Navigation Ltd.
located at 286 B 1/1, Galle Road, Colombo 03, Sri Lanka.
The vessel in question is the "ITAC Express," a "general
cargo-CGO" which has a dead weight of 2181 metric tons and
a draft of 4.6 meters. It was built in 1970 in Adelaide.
According to "intelligence," the Australians believe the
LTTE intends to register the ship in Cambodia.


3. (S/NF) The vessel was inspected in Cairns on August 14,
2005 by two "officials" of Liverpool Navigations. They are:

-- Mr. Sathasivam Vincendrarajan (Chairman),DOB January
31, 1966, Sri Lankan passport number N140022, residing at
26/1 Alfred Place, Colombo 03 Sri Lanka

-- Mr. Carlton Hariharan Francis Xavier (General
Manager/Technical),DOB December 7, 1960, Sri Lankan
passport number N1456577, residing at 30B Nimal
Road, Colombo 04 Sri Lanka


4. (S/NF) Comment: This apparent purchase fits the
longstanding pattern of LTTE use of aged cargo vessels both
for their cargo business and for shipment of weapons and
supplies into LTTE-controlled areas in the North and the
East. The Australians here tell us that, in their
interactions with the Sri Lankan government, the
intelligence agencies wanted the sale to go forward so that
the ship, its owners and crew and its activities could be
tracked and, perhaps, information gleaned about the LTTE
overseas procurement network. A political decision was
made (the Australians imply by President Kumaratunga),
however, to work with the Australians to prevent the
purchase from taking place. We will stay in touch with the
Australians here about this issue, which comes at a time
when the Australians are also considering, in the wake of
the August 12 LTTE murder of the Sri Lankan foreign
minister, whether to issue a visa to a senior member of the
LTTE-linked political party, the Tamil National Alliance
(TNA),who wishes to attend meetings in Australia in
October. Regarding visas, post Visas Viper committee will
consider the two gentlemen (as well as any other names that
arise as the matter unfolds further) in paragraph three for
inclusion at its next meeting.
LUNSTEAD