Two Lankan Tamils jailed in US for trying to get arms for LTTE

Two New York based Sri Lankan Tamils have been sentenced to prison terms by the eastern district court of New York for "conspiring to provide material support to the LTTE", a designated foreign terrorist organization in the US, the US embassy in Colombo has said in a press release.

The two, Sathajhan Sarachandran also known as Satha (30) and Nadarasa Yogarasa(55) also known as Yoga, were sentenced to 26 and 14 years in prison respectively, in connection with their efforts to purchase $1 million worth of high-powered weaponry for the LTTE. The sentences were imposed by Chief United States District Judge Raymond J. Dearie on Friday.

On Aug 19, 2006, Sarachandran, Yogarasa and two co-defendants were arrested on Long Island after engaging in negotiations with an undercover FBI agent to purchase and export 20 SA-18 heat-seeking missiles, ten missile launchers, 500 AK-47s, and other military equipment for the LTTE.

The defendants were acting at the direction of senior LTTE leadership in Sri Lanka, including Pottu Amman, the LTTE’s chief of intelligence and procurement and the right-hand man to LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakharan. The LTTE intended to use the SA-18 missiles to shoot down Kfir aircraft used by the Sri Lankan military.

In January 2009, Sarachandran pled guilty to providing, conspiring to provide, and attempting to provide material support to the LTTE and conspiring and attempting to acquire guided surface-to-air missiles and missile launchers. Yogarasa pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to the LTTE and conspiring to do so.

“The defendants attempted to use this district as a terrorist arms depot,” stated United States Attorney Campbell. “The sentences handed down today send a clear message – we will use the full force of the law to stop terrorist organisations and their supporters in their tracks.”

Mr. Campbell added that this prosecution is the result of a coordinated international effort by law enforcement led by the Newark Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Co-defendants Thiruthanikan Thanigasalam and Sahilal Sabaratnam, who also pleaded guilty in January 2009 to conspiring and attempting to provide material support to the LTTE, and conspiring and attempting to acquire guided surface-to-air missiles and missile launchers, are scheduled to be sentenced on Jan 25.

The LTTE, after a series of assassination of Sri Lankan leaders was was designated by the U.S. State Department in 1997 as a foreign terrorist Organization and raising money or procuring equipment or materials in the US for it made illegal.

- Asian Tribune -