The Sri Lankan government is seriously concerned over a rapid LTTE build-up in Malaysia, now believed to be the major gathering point for top operatives.

Sri Lanka also believes that Tharmalingam Shanmughan alias Kumaran Pathmanathan also known as KP had has set up base there after quitting Thailand.

Authoritative defence and diplomatic sources told ‘The Island’ that a Colombo-based diplomat had been recently spotted in Thailand where he allegedly met with KP. Although the diplomat had claimed that discussions centred on internally displaced persons, the sources asserted that an international operation seemed to be underway in support of the group.

The diplomat had passed through Singapore on his way to Malaysia, he said, adding that the meeting came close on the heels of KP’s recent appointment as their chief negotiator. The sources said that although the navy had destroyed most of the vessels owned by the LTTE, the group is believed to be operating a few vessels and were on the look out for fresh stocks of arms.

Sri Lanka has provided a detailed account of clandestine LTTE operations to the Malaysian government. "We are awaiting for Malaysia to act swiftly and decisively to neutralize the threat posed by the LTTE," a senior official told ‘The Island’. He regretted the undue delay in tracking down LTTE operatives.

After receiving credible information on LTTE activities, Sri Lankan intelligence services had been placed on a heightened state of alert, the sources said. Responding to our queries,

the sources said that the gang based in Malaysia was making an attempt on the lives of several government figures. "We have broken their network," another official said. He asserted that the failure on the part of the Malaysian government to destroy the LTTE ring, would pose a major threat.

The official said that influential political and business interests could be involved with the LTTE operation. "We are really concerned about the growing the LTTE influence there," he said, adding that the detection of a company controlled by a son of Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi over allegations that it had been involved in supplying parts for Libya's nuclear weapons programme, revealed the danger in allowing unscrupulous elements freedom of operate. This came to light following information received by US and British intelligence services.