A case of crying wolf, nay, Tiger
Friday 21st August, 2026 A suspect has been remanded over a false social media claim that the LTTE has set up a training facility in the Pallai forest reserve in the former warzone. Minister of Public Security Ananda Wijepala yesterday told Parliament that investigations had revealed that there was no truth whatsoever in the social […]
A suspect has been taken into custody in connection with a false social media claim that the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) has established a training facility within the Pallai forest reserve in the former conflict zone. The Minister of Public Security, Ananda Wijepala, stated on Friday, 21st August 2026, that investigations conducted by the Security Task Force (STF) have confirmed the complete lack of evidence supporting the social media assertion.
The disputed property is situated in the Kanagarayankulam area, where approximately 10 acres of land had been cleared and developed by an individual named Thiyagarasa, according to Minister Wijepala. This site features a building with an aloe vera and vegetable garden on adjacent land. The STF, deployed to inspect the area, encountered resistance from those operating at the location.
The investigation uncovered separate legal issues regarding the property, leading to legal proceedings filed by the Department of Forest Conservation against Thiyagarasa and four others involved in the unauthorized activities. Despite social media platforms' tendency to employ sensationalism to attract attention and increase revenue, the plausibility of the false claims surrounding the alleged LTTE facility is highly doubtful.
However, if substantial evidence emerges indicating that the suspect acted with malicious intent, legal measures may be taken against him. The government and police must exercise caution and refrain from actions that could discourage the public from reporting potential terrorist activities. The 2018 Nuwara Eliya incident serves as a reminder of the importance of swift police response to thwart terrorist plots.
In May 2018, a resident alerted the police about a suspicious meeting at a lodge in Nuwara Eliya, but the authorities delayed their response, resulting in the meeting being held by National Thowheed Jamaath (NTJ) terrorists, including future attackers of the Katuwapitiya Church in 2019 and Naufer Moulavi. Had the police acted promptly, they could have apprehended the key suspects, potentially preventing the Easter Sunday attacks.
Recurring claims of LTTE revival attempts should not be dismissed outright. Sri Lankan and Indian media have reported multiple instances of alleged LTTE revivals, plots, or activities over the past years. In 2023, the India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) filed charges against 13 suspects, including 10 Sri Lankans, for allegedly smuggling narcotics and trafficking arms to fund an LTTE revival in India and Sri Lanka.
In 2021, an individual was arrested in India following an NIA investigation into a conspiracy to revive the LTTE and finance its activities through illicit trafficking. Although the LTTE no longer poses a significant threat to Sri Lanka's security, the defence authorities must remain vigilant and cautious.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
