For Col Karuna that would have to be any time after March 2004 when he split from the Tigers.

BBC: Questions over renegade Tamil Tiger

The United Nations children's agency, Unicef, has repeatedly issued statements accusing Col Karuna and his faction of forcibly recruiting child soldiers.

BBC: Questions over renegade Tamil Tiger

On top of this, in particular cases it would it would be hard to prove the chain of command leading to Colonel Karuna personally in an organisation as secretive as the Tigers.

BBC: Questions over renegade Tamil Tiger

In this case it would need a very broad interpretation of the law to say Col Karuna was a resident when he was visiting his family and had only been in the country two months.

BBC: Questions over renegade Tamil Tiger

They are now in disarray, after their commander in the east, known as Colonel Karuna, broke away early this month, complaining about the domination of the movement by northerners, and claiming the backing of several thousand Tiger fighters.

ECONOMIST: Elections are unlikely to bring a stable government

Vinayagamoorthi Muralitharan (also known as Karuna), a former head of the Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Pulikal (TMVP) and now a member of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (the main component of the ruling United People's Freedom Alliance government), may also become more prominent, although his main base of support is in the east.

ECONOMIST: The uncertain future of Tamils in Sri Lanka