Sri Lanka Govt. denies issuing a diplomatic passport to Karuna

The British prosecutors are investigating war crimes allegations levelled against Vinayagamurthi Muralitharan alias Karuna, newspapers in London said.

London's The Guardian and The Times said the British authorities are looking at options to charge the renegade rebel leader.

Arrested in UK

British immigration authorities said Karuna was arrested at an unidentified location in the UK, on 02 November, the same day senior LTTE leader Tamilselvan was killed in Sri Lanka air raids.

It is not our practise to reveal the details of these (between the British government and the SLHC) discussions First Secretary, SLHC, Maxwell Keegel

He has entered the UK in September using a diplomatic passport bearing the name of Kokila Gunawardene according to the main opposition, United National Party (UNP).

The visa was reportedly issued after the Sri Lankan government sent a 'third party request' with the passport of Gunawardene, a senior official of the Environmental Affairs ministry.

Karuna's 'war crimes'

Karuna, who broke away form the main stream LTTE in March 2003, later formed a separate group called Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP), widely known as 'Karuna faction'.

International human rights campaigners said his faction was used by the government for widespread abductions, killings, taking ransom and other rights abuses.

	Karuna split from the mainstream LTTE in March 2003

Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the Coalition to Stop Child Soldiers have called on the British authorities to charge Karuna for war crimes which includes recruiting child soldiers.

The Sri Lankan High Commissioner in London, Kshenuka Seneviratne, was called into the British Foreign Office on Tuesday to express concern over issuance of a diplomatic passport to Karuna by the Sri Lankan government.

Using dplomatic passport

The High Commission (HC) in London did not deny or confirm the discussion took place.

First Secretary at the HC, Maxwell Keegel, earlier told BBC Sandeshaya that HC and British authorities "are engaged in routine discussions".

Sri Lankan government is unaware of any issuance of a diplomatic passport to Karuna SLHC in London

However, "it is not our practise to reveal the details of these discussions," he added.

The HC has told the London newspapers that the Sri Lankan government was "unaware of any issuance of a diplomatic passport to Karuna".

If Karuna is charged in London, it would lead to a serious rift between the two countries, The Times said.