Met police say Sri Lankan suspect ‘released’ but still under investigation

Jaffna-based BBC correspondent’s killing:

By Shamindra Ferdinando

A Sri Lankan arrested in the UK in February this year in connection with the killing of Mylvaganam Nimalarajan, who contributed to the BBC’s Tamil and Sinhala services, is under investigation, though released from custody there.Jack Griffith of Metropolitan Police Service’s Directorate of Media and Communication said that the arrested person had been released but was under investigation. Griffith said so early this week responding to The Island queries.

Nimalarajan was killed at his Jaffna residence in an area held by the governmentThe spokesperson said that law enforcement officers want to hear from anyone who may have information that could assist the ongoing investigation, particularly members of the Sri Lankan community who emigrated to, and now reside in, the UK. For those willing to cooperate, ‘war crimes team’ could be contacted at SO15Mailbox. WarCrimesTeam@met.police.uk

There hadn’t been a previous case of a Lankan war crimes suspect taken into custody in the UK, other sources said, adding that Nimalarajan was killed over 20 years ago in the Jaffna peninsula.The British police earlier said that the arrest was made at an address in Northamptonshire on February 22 “as part of a proactive operation”.

“He was arrested on suspicion of offences under Section 51 of the International Criminal Court Act 2001,” the Metropolitan Police said.

The media quoted Commander Richard Smith, who leads the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command as having said: “This is a significant update in what is a sensitive, complex investigation,”

“There will still be people who may have information, particularly in relation to the murder of Nimalarajan, and we would urge those people to come forward and help achieve justice for Nimalrajan’s family.”