What has happened to the British Citizen?

Government backed paramilitary group complicity?

by Rajasingham Jayadevan

(November 21, London, Sri Lanka Guardian) The relatives and friends of Subramaniam Gnaneswaran who is a British citizen (passport number 093207376) are worried about his safety following his kidnap in Colombo. He is married with two young children.

Having disposed his Cost Cutter retail business in London, he went to Sri Lanka in 2006 with the sale proceeds and purchased a house in Colombo. He rented the house to one Pratheep, whom became his business acquaintance to manage his car sale business he started in Colombo. But their partnership broke-up and Gnaneswaran ejected him from the house and debarred him from any business dealings.

Gnaneswaran then proceeded to run his business with one Premnath, who is a friend of Pratheep. Premnath was entrusted to run the business on his own when Gnaneswaran returned to London on 12 September 2008. Soon after on 20 October 2008 Gnaneswaran returned to Colombo.

On his return, Gnaneswaran realised Rs 2.5 million was siphoned off from his car dealership business by Premnath. He demanded the money to be returned. Premnath asked for some time to settle the sum.

Gnaneswaran owned a Jaguar reg: JX9977. On 3 November 2008, he went to a Hindu temple in Colombo 4 (Bambalapitiya) to pick up his cousin sister. Whilst he was driving, he received a call from Premnath. He asked Gnaneswaran to come to his house at Nelson Place, Colombo 6 (Wellawatte). When he reached his house Premnath got into the car. Premnath then realised there was another passenger in the car. He got down from the car and asked Gnaneswaran to drop her off and come back to collect the debt he owed.

Gnaneswaran returned to Nelson Place at about 6.00pm after dropping his cousin. Since then he is missing.

At about 7.30pm, a call was received at his home and Gnaneswaran had said he will return home after a week. He had also confirmed that Premnath had given him the Rs 2.5 million.

Worried Gnaneswaran’s sister Yogeswari had called Premnath immediately on his mobile number and enquired about her brother. At about 9.30pm Premnath visited Yogeswari’s house in the Jaguar and handed over the gate key. When she asked how Gnaneswaran moved about without the car, Premnath had said that he went in a van.

After three days, Premnath visited Gnaneswaran’s house and collected some documents for the Jaguar and a jeep.

Premnath visited the house again on 11/11/2008. He was asked about the whereabouts of Gnaneswaran. He maintained silence.

On 12/11/2008, a call was received from Gnaneswaran’s mobile phone. The caller threatened that the relatives must not complain to the police. The caller said it will be a futile exercise to go to the police. The caller warned no information should be passed on to the police about Premnath. The caller also asked for the ownership document for the Jaguar to be given to Premnath.

When the relatives of Gneswaran were getting ready to go to the police station, Premanath, Predeep and two others arrived and threatened them not to go to the police station. However, the relatives went ahead and made a complaint at the Dehiwale (Outskirts of Colombo) police station. The Police entertained the complaint, but the they later told them to make the complaint at the Colombo 6 (Wellawatte) police station that covers their residence.

The Wellawatte police entertained the complaint and recorded full statement from the victim’s sister Maithili next day. Few days later, the relatives had seen the Jaguar being kept in the Wellawatte police station.

The police had not made any further progress and the relatives are being harassed by some unknown people even now.

The above facts were brought to the attention of the British High Commission by a letter dated 22 December 2009.

It is now known, the government supporting paramilitary group TELO is behind this kidnap. Sources say that a Tamil from Germany and another from London who are members of the TELO paramilitary were involved in the kidnap. According to information these two have moved to Sri Lanka since the end of the war.

According to information, the marriage of Gnaneswaran had got into difficulties before left to Sri Lanka.