Sri Lanka hunts for Tiger overseas human trafficker

Security and intelligence agencies have turned the spot light on Ravi Shanker Kanagarajah alias Shangili, a most wanted transnational terrorist cum kingpin of overseas based human trafficking and illegal arms smuggling activities, the Defence Ministry said.


According to the Defence Ministry Ravi Shankar is also found to be the owner of MV Ocean Lady alias Princess Eashwary, vessels extensively used in human smuggling activities- in the LTTE’s overseas network based in Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Earlier, on October 2009, Canadian immigration authorities arrested MV Princess Eashwary (MV Ocean Lady) while smuggling-in 76 bogus asylum seekers into Canadian waters from South Asia. The vessel "Princess Eashwary" is also said to be used extensively for gunrunning activities of the LTTE outfit, prior to its military defeat in May, 2009, the Defence Ministry said.


“His activities abroad have to be very closely monitored by the Law enforcement and intelligence agencies in the countries where he is taking shelter. It is the responsibility of such authorities to take him into custody and deport to Sri Lanka”, the Defence Ministry said.


According to the Defence Ministry, Sri Lankan Law enforcement authorities are working hand-in-hand with the concerned government’s for an extradition order on such criminals cum terrorists.


Ravi Shanker is a great threat for the security on the entire south Asian region. He is also one of the very important and most wanted figure in the organized crimes and human smuggling in the region, the Defence Ministry said.


Ravi Shanker alias Shangili is a Sri Lankan passport holder who had claimed bogus asylum to evade Canadian immigration authorities. He is a key LTTE gunrunner also allegedly engaged in human smuggling, who owns three vessels which are currently under operation and registered in Panama.