June 07, Colombo: Police have arrested the businessman who was scheduled to receive the cargo of the suspected LTTE ship MV Captain Ali.

The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) confirmed that a leading businessman in Sri Lanka was arrested in Colombo following the initial investigations. However the CID officials refused to disclose the man’s identity as it could compromise the continuing investigation.

The MV Captain Ali originally sailed from the United Kingdom, with a stopover in France to load its cargo. It remains anchored off Panadura sea area under the protection of the Navy.

The ship was seized by the Sri Lanakan Navy last Thursday, 150 kilometers off Panadura, for entering Sri Lanka's territorial waters without permission. Its cargo consists of nearly 800 metric tons of food and medicines, including crutches for the disabled.