Members of this shadow group, run with the instructions of the defence ministry, were LTTE spies who had surrendered to the Army and intelligence personnel proficient in the Tamil language.

This group had a camp at a jungle in Giritale, and Ekneligoda had visited the place several times, one of the arrested ex-LTTE spies Suresh Kumar alias Thavendran has revealed.

This covert group has had links with several LTTE leaders and on their orders, had carried out several covert LTTE operations in the south.

Thavendran confesses
Thavendran, who had one-time operated under LTTE intelligence leader Kapil Amman, has exposed several secret missions by the Army intelligence.

The group is still at work, maintaining links with the Diaspora and the LTTE, say defence sources.

With around 650 intelligence members, it had been used after the war to commit political murders.

Around June 2009, Thavendran surrendered to the military and had engaged in several of its intelligence operations, about which he has revealed details, including a media organization and several other southern organizations and individuals with whom he has had connections.

Based on information given by him, former defence secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa and ex-Army chief Sarath Fonseka will be questioned.

Also, statements will also be recorded in the coming days from former Army commander Jagath Jayasuriya and several Army intelligence personnel, including Maj. Gen. Kapila Hendavitarana, Maj. Gen. Amal Karunasekara, Maj. Gen. Janmika Liyanage and Brig. Wanniarachchi, say police headquarters sources.

The defence secretary on August 27 approved the detention of Army intelligence unit’s Lt. Col. Kumara Ratnayake, Lt. Col. Siriwardena, Staff Sergeant Rajapakse, Corporal Jayalath, a Sergeant Major and another Tamil in connection with Ekneligoda’s disappearance.

Previously, Thavendran and another Tamil as well as a Sergeant Major of the Army were arrested in connection with Ekneligoda’s abduction.

Meanwhile, top military officials have asked the government not to betray its intelligence officers, who had played a key role in the military defeat of the LTTE, warning that top secret information regarding military operations in the north could be exposed.

A top official at the police headquarters said several crimes committed during the war and the identities of those responsible would be revealed if the government did not interfere with the CID investigation, Sathhanda reports.