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A British Tamil, Sankar Vijayasuntharam, who was arrested under Sri Lanka’s draconian Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) while attending his mother’s funeral, has been released after the court found no evidence of wrongdoing.
Despite allegations by Sri Lankan authorities that he had been involved in raising funds for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), investigations revealed that any money he sent was solely to support his parents.
Sankar, who fled Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the Mullivaikkal genocide in 2009, had not returned to the island in 14 years. The 43-year-old British citizen was arrested on November 30, 2024, upon arrival at Bandaranaike International Airport, based on a 2012 travel ban issued by the Colombo Magistrate’s Court.
In 2012, the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) filed a report alleging that Sankar had collected funds for the "revival of a terrorist organization" and sent them to Sri Lanka. This claim led to a travel ban being imposed against him. However, despite over a decade of investigations, no evidence was presented to substantiate the allegations.
Sankar had been living in the United Kingdom since 2009, where he later obtained British citizenship. His return to Sri Lanka for his mother’s funeral marked his first visit since the end of the armed conflict.
When the case was taken up at the Colombo Magistrate’s Court, President's Counsel K.V. Thavarasa, representing Sankar, argued that the arrest was both unlawful and baseless. He pointed out that when hundreds of innocent people were arrested after the war ended in 2009, the suspect was also arrested and released without any charges being brought against him. Thavarasa emphasized that while police reports in 2012 had accused Sankar of fundraising, no clear evidence had ever been produced in court. He also noted that Sankar had not visited Sri Lanka until his arrest in 2024.
During his submissions, Thavarasa highlighted the broader consequences of such arrests. He said such illegal arrests would reduce foreign investments by the Tamil diaspora and would also have a major impact on the tourism sector, which would also lead to a decline in the Sri Lankan economy.
The court ultimately ruled in Sankar’s favour, ordering his release after finding no evidence to support the allegations.
Sankar’s arrest has further hihglighted concerns about the Sri Lankan government’s persistent use of the PTA to target Tamils under vague and unsubstantiated allegations. Despite the LTTE’s military defeat in 2009, Sri Lankan authorities continue to use anti-terrorism laws as a tool to suppress dissent and intimidate Tamils.