Liberation Tigers Tamil Eelam and Federal Court Canada Justice

Sri Lanka: The board accepted that Pathmanathan might be questioned for potential links to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam but said he had not shown any association to the now defunct guerilla organization, according to Vancouver Courier. Pathmnathan claim was based on the concern he would be perceived by Sri Lankan authorities that he was associated with the group and become a victim of cruel and unusual punishment in Sri Lanka. Federal Court of Canada Justice James O’Reilly granted the review to Packiyakumar Pathmanathan after a panel of the Immigration and Refugee Board previously dismissed the man claim, saying his life would not be at risk upon return to Sri Lanka. In his May 15 ruling delivered in Vancouver, O’Reilly wrote that the board did not cite any documentary evidence dealing with the treatment of passengers on the MV Sun Sea or the MV Ocean Lady, another vessel that brought refugee claimants to Canada from Sri Lanka. It is clear, even on the evidence cited by the board that persons suspected of having ties to the LTTE, including failed refugee claimants, face a risk of torture or mistreatment on return. That evidence showed that both Sri Lankan and Canadian authorities have accused passengers of having an association with the LTTE, he wrote. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.