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"Sri
Lanka
had
fallen
victim
to
dangerous
forms of
maritime
terrorism.
Following
the
recent
defeat
of a
terrorist
group [LTTE],
it had
been
discovered
that
their
networks
were
being
transferred
to arms
smuggling
and drug
trafficking
on the
international
arena",
said the
Permanent
Representative
of Sri
Lanka to
the
United
Nations,
Dr.
Palitha
Kohona
speaking
at the
UN
general
debate
of the
Third
Committee
(Social,
Humanitarian
and
Cultural)
on crime
prevention,
criminal
justice
and
international
drug
control.
He
noted
that
terrorist
groups
with
their
transnational
linkages
and
multifaceted
criminal
networks
generated
a vast
and
complex
mix of
criminal
activities,
ranging
from
fund-raising,
using
overseas
bases,
terrorist
financing,
money
laundering,
arms
procurement
and
other
organized
criminal
activities,
all of
which
were
interrelated.
The
transportation
of large
consignments
of
sophisticated
equipment
and
lethal
cargo to
provide
logistical
support
to
terrorist
groups
continued
to pose
a threat
to
maritime
security.
Weapons
transported
by sea
were
reaching
more
than one
group.
He
stressed
the
importance
of
achieving
global
consensus
on a
comprehensive
normative
framework
for
international
cooperation
on
terrorism.
Dr.
Palitha
Kohona
also
noted
that
while
international
cooperation
was
required
to
address
the
increase
in
global
crime,
it was
just as
important
to
engage
in
poverty
reduction
and
development
programmes.
Human
smuggling
and
trafficking
were
also
linked
to
terrorism,
poverty
and lack
of
social
advancement.
The
Convention
against
Transnational
Organized
Crime
should
continue
to be
the
legal
“cornerstone”
in
global
efforts
against
trafficking,
he
further
said.
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