Arunachalam Chrishanthakumar, allias "Shanthan," bought bomb-making equipment for the LTTE despite holding regular meetings with Special Branch, a London court has heard yesterday.

He was also close to Anton Balasingham, the Tigers' chief political negotiator, who moved to London in 1999 and died three years ago, the Telegraph website reported.

"As you might expect because of this country's close links with Sri Lanka and the large Tamil community which lives in the UK, the authorities through its agencies such as Special Branch, held regular meetings with [Shanthan]," Jonathan Laidlaw QC was quoted as saying by the website.

The LTTE was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in UK and police questioned Shanthan in July 2004 when he was caught buying military clothing and equipment at an army surplus store in Southsea, Hamsphire but did not arrest him.

The list included 250 pairs of combat boots, 251 army-type ponchos, 30 machetes, 152 trenching spades and 110 pairs of US military handcuffs, the court heard.

Special Branch continued to meet Shanthan but three years later officers raided his home in Norbury, South London and discovered equipment which could be used in improvised explosive devices along with high powered magnets of the type used to attach limpet mines to Sri Lankan Naval vessels.

Two lists included equipment which could be used to track boats and plans to manufacture 7,500 printed circuit boards in Taiwan with a timing and switching function that could have been used for a "nefarious purpose" the court was told.

Mr. Laidlaw said: "Shanthan as head of the LTTE in London was the co-ordinator of the procurement exercise. He was in contact with senior LTTE figures in Sri Lanka, receiving their orders and requests and, on occasions, buying equipment himself."

His co-accused, Jegatheswaran Muraleetharan, 46, known as Muralee, and his brother, Jeyatheswaran Vythyatharan, 40, known as Vithy, who had well-paid jobs in South Wales, were "both highly skilled electrical engineers and it was they with their expertise who carried out both the research and development," the court was told.

Murugesu Jegatheeswaran, 34, known as Jegan, from Mitcham, south London, allegedly lent his name to the operation and received goods at his job at a printer's firm.

The trial continues.