LTTE fund raising event in London

(November, 20, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) A fund raising event of the LTTE took place at Shree Kanaga Durgai Amman Temple in the Northwest London on November 17,2007. Attended by supporters of the LTTE, the event received big publicity in the LTTE media. The publicity material for the event said: ‘distinguished, illustrious Eelam Tamil's poet, Puthuvai Ratnathurai's CD release in English held on Saturday the 17th of November 2007.’

Puthuvai Rathinathurai is the official poet of the LTTE in Vanni and has written poems on terror campaign of the LTTE.

The official presenter of the event was one of LTTE’s street campaigners in London Kandiah Rajamanoharan and many LTTE activist purchased LTTE poets CD’s paying premium sums from him.

The event has taken place despite UK Terrorism Act prohibiting promotion of causes and glorification of terrorism of a proscribed group under the said Act.

One of the LTTE’s funding magnate in London Vahan who runs an auto repair shop in the north London was the main attraction of the event. He was blessed by the Hindu priest before he purchased the CD paying large sum of money. His photograph was given due prominence and displayed in the LTTE websites immediately after the event. Vahan is from the islet of Punguduthivu off Jaffna peninsula in the northern Sri Lanka and said to be closely connected to Mathivathani, the wife of LTTE leader Velupillai Pirabakaran.

The following pictures taken from the photo archives confirm involvement of Vahan with the LTTE activities in Vanni.

Vahan standing next to LTTE spokesperson Late S P Thamilchelvan.

He is a partner of Vee Kay Autos based in 48 Belfast Road, London N16 6HU. He is also the director of LTTE’s now defunct Tamil Television Network (TTN) in London. He has funded the LTTE extensively and for his contribution he was awarded the directorship of the TTN. He is one of the founder trustees of LTTE’s Enfield Nagapoossani Ambal Temple based in 61-65 Church Lane, Edmonton, London N9 9PZ. This temple was started with the involvement of Dr Murugesu Vinayagamoorthy also known as Dr Moorthy who is one of those arrested in a sting operation by the FBI in USA early last year.

Vahan undergoing training with AK47 in Vanni with the LTTE.

Vahan with LTTE men in Vanni