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Magistrate refuses to revoke warrant on ex-LTTEer Emil Kanthan
View(s):Colombo Fort Magistrate Priyantha Liyanage on Friday turned down a request from lawyers for a former LTTE strongman Emil Kanthan alias Anton Chamil Lakshmi Kannan to revoke the open warrant for his arrest.
The Magistrate turned down the request after the CID objected to the lifting of the warrant which has been issued for his immediate arrest on arrival at any port or airport in Sri Lanka.
Emil Kanthan is wanted for questioning in connection with the misappropriation of RADA (Reconstruction and Development Agency) monies by transferring money, amounting to Rs. 757 million, meant to build houses for tsunami victims and channeling it to the LTTE.
Kanthan allegedly played the role of middleman in the deal overwhich former MP Tiran Alles and Saliya Wickramasuriya former Chief Operations Officer of RADA are also facing charges.
The CID on April 4 last year had taken an order from the Colombo Fort Magistrate’s Court to issue a travel ban on Kanthan in connection with the RADA case
The CID informed Court on Friday that Kanthan was wanted in connection with several cases but his lawyers told the Magistrate that all the other warrants had been recalled and only the travel ban was pending.
The Colombo High Court earlier this month withdrew the Interpol red notice after lawyers appearing for Kanthan informed court he was ready to surrender and take part in the trial.
The case against him in the High Court is in connection with the attempted murder of EPDP Leader Douglas Devananda at the Kalutara Prison in 1998. Emil Kantian was serving a sentence in prison at the time.
Attorneys Lakshman Perera and Suranga Wedasinghe instructed by Anton Punithanayagam appeared for Emil Kanthan.