Date:26/02/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/02/26/stories/2003022604711200.htm

International

Passport for Prabakaran's son?

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO. FEB. 25. The Sri Lankan Government has reportedly given a passport and national identity card (NIC) to Charles Anthony, son of the leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, V. Prabakaran, a newspaper said today. The Island, in a front-paged story, said that the passport and NIC were given to Charles as the need arose for him ``to pursue education abroad''.

Most Sri Lankans carry a national identity card, each with an alphanumeric number encompassing all personal and professional details. During the days of heightened conflict, the NIC was an inseparable part of Sri Lankans, while foreigners had to carry suitable identification documents.

The need for the passport and NIC for Charles Anthony arose a few years ago when he wanted to study abroad ``but was unable to get the required documents'', the newspaper said, adding that the documents were now issued with the ``direct intervention of an influential Minister''.

Mr. Prabakaran, who hails from a family that practises Hinduism, named his son, Charles Anthony, in memory of one of his closest aides.