Colombo, Nov 17: Sri Lanka has urged the international community to take tangible action against LTTE front organisations posing as charities in the wake of the US decision to freeze the assets of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO).

The TRO was not focused solely on rehabilitation but also on financing LTTE's arms procurement, Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama said, adding that the precedent set by the US should encourage other countries -- particularly Australia, Canada, Denmark, France and the UK-- to take actions against such organisations.

He called upon the international community to act speedily in this regard.

The Minister also warned against possible attempts by the LTTE to re-commence the activities of its banned affiliated organisations by re-naming or re-registering them.

''While one can expect a significant decline in the monthly collections of the LTTE's worldwide, estimated at 20-30 million dollars, at the same time we need to be vigilant, of the propensity shown by the LTTE to shift its operations from one organisation to another, when they realise its running into trouble with the law of the land,'' Daily News quoted him as saying.

The Minister appreciated the US Administration for the speedy investigation carried out and the action taken against the TRO.

Accusing TRO for facilitating fundraising and procurement for the LTTE, the US Department of the Treasury had yesterday announced that it would freeze the US-held assets of the organisation.

The US Government becomes the first foreign government to take tangible action against an LTTE front organisation, he said, adding, '' The statement confirms much of what we have been pointing out to the international community with regard to LTTE front organisation operations that have been taking place for decades.''

UNI