By Roy Denish.
Karuna Amman was questioned for more than four hours by Sri Lanka’s CID as investigators continue an ongoing abduction inquiry.
COLOMBO, Sri Lanka – Criminal Investigation Department officers questioned Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan, the former eastern commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam widely known as Karuna Amman, for more than four hours on Monday as part of an ongoing abduction investigation.
Mr. Muralitharan arrived at the Criminal Investigation Department early on Monday morning following a formal summons and departed around noon after detectives recorded his statement.
Law enforcement officials did not immediately specify which case prompted the questioning or what connection they believe he may have to the investigation.
The interrogation places renewed scrutiny on a prominent figure from Sri Lanka’s civil-war era.
Mr. Muralitharan served as a high-ranking military commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam until his split from the separatist organisation in 2004.
He subsequently formed a breakaway armed faction that aligned with the Sri Lankan military and later entered mainstream politics as a Member of Parliament and government deputy minister.
Monday’s proceedings follow previous investigative steps involving associates from his former network.
In late 2024, investigators questioned Mr. Muralitharan regarding the 2006 disappearance of Sivasubramaniam Raveendranath, then Vice Chancellor of Eastern University, who remains missing.
Additionally, his former deputy, Sivanesathurai Chandrakanthan—commonly known as Pillayan—was arrested in early 2025 in connection with a separate abduction and disappearance case.
Authorities have not stated whether Monday’s questioning is linked to either investigation.
International scrutiny has also intensified around the former commander.
Last year, the United Kingdom imposed a travel ban and asset freeze on Mr. Muralitharan and three other former Sri Lankan military commanders, citing alleged human rights abuses during the civil war, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and sexual violence.
