Colombo: Sri Lanka has said that it has not yet taken a decision on whether or not to hand over Tamil Tiger chief Velupillai Prabhakaran to India if he is caught alive. Lankan troops are currently approaching the last major rebel bastions in the jungle district of Mullaitivu.

According to a local media report, defence spokesman minister Keheliya Rambukwella has said Colombo would consider the matter seriously if India was to make an official request, but stressed that a final decision would be taken in line with the international and diplomatic relations with its neighbours.

"Prabhakarans future will be based on international conventions like the Geneva Convention, and our diplomatic relations with other countries. It is basically a diplomatic matter and will be handled that way," the Daily Mirror quoted Rambukwella as saying on Monday.

Sri Lankas reaction came a day after Congress spokesman Veerappa Moily demanded that Sri Lanka extradite the LTTE chief if he is nabbed, to be tried for his links in Rajiv Gandhis assassination.

"He is an assassin and we would be happy if he was extradited to India. We want him to be prosecuted and convicted in India," Moily said on Saturday.

The elusive rebel leader, who founded the LTTE in 1976,is known to have deep and seemingly secure underground caves and bunkers in Mullaitivu.

Confident after retaking the LTTEs main politico-administrative town of Kilinochchi two days ago, the troops, on Sunday forced their way into the strategically important Oddusuddan township, ahead of Mullaitivu.

Sri Lankas defence ministry said that the strategically vital Oddusuddan junction located along the Mankulam-Mullaitivu (A-34) main highway had been used by the LTTE "for their administrative and logistic purposes as it has direct route access towards Mullaitivu, Puthukkudiyiruppu, Mankulam and Nedunkerni".

Speaking to visiting reporters in the former rebels political hub, Sri Lankan armys 57 Division Commander Major General Jagath Dias vowed on Sunday that his men "will not rest until they hunt down Prabhakaran in the Mullaitivu jungles".

President Rajapaksa last week threatened to outlaw the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist group if it did not allow Tamils living in its control to move to government-held areas with the beginning of 2009.

Minister Rambukwella has confirmed reports that a ban on the LTTE was being seriously considered and was likely to be taken up for discussion by the cabinet this week.

Source : Central