In a surprise development, the Sri Lankan government has officially removed the names of eleven Tamil nationals who were previously blacklisted for allegedly financing terrorism, according to an extraordinary gazette issued by Defence Secretary Sampath Thuiya Kontha. The delisting was carried out under regulations linked to United Nations directives, indicating a significant policy decision within the country’s counter-terrorism framework.
The gazette states that these individuals will no longer be included in the list of persons identified as financiers or supporters of terrorism. Most of the delisted individuals are said to be living abroad, although their local and foreign addresses have been recorded in the report. The Defence Ministry has not issued any explanation regarding the legal or investigative grounds for the removal, raising questions among political observers, security analysts, and the Tamil diaspora.
The following names were officially removed:
• Kanthalingam Premaraji
• Balasubramanian Sri Skada Raja
• Komolis Prabhakaran
• Ilayathambi Thiresa Kumaran
• Kandaiya Kunjida Padam
• Kasinathan Ganeshalingam
• Krishna Kutty Sukumaran alias Udayath
• Kuru Kula Singham
• Thevarasa Sebamalei
• Joy Jinas Thurai Rasa Priyadarshani
• Velupillai Sivanadiyar
The original listing of these individuals was done under global anti-terror financing laws linked to the UN Security Council framework. Their removal now is being interpreted in multiple ways: some view it as a diplomatic gesture meant to soften relations with the Tamil diaspora, while others see it as part of Sri Lanka’s ongoing effort to demonstrate compliance with international monitoring bodies such as the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
Security officials have yet to clarify whether the delisting was based on new intelligence, lack of evidence, or a political decision. Human rights groups argue that many on the list were never given due legal process, while nationalist critics warn that removing names could weaken mechanisms against LTTE-linked financial networks.
The Defence Ministry is expected to face growing calls for transparency, as the delisting reopens debate on how Sri Lanka labels, monitors, and eventually absolves individuals linked to past terror financing allegations.
