The Sri Lanka Ministry of Defense reported that its embassy in Washington, D.C., has logged complains with the U.S. Departments of Justice and State as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against Intelsat “for reneging its promise” to shut down a satellite transponder that was being used by Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers rebel group to make unauthorized broadcasts in Europe and Asia.

On April 24, Phillip Spector, Intelsat’s general counsel, reported that the transponder used by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had been turned off. Intelsat described the Tamil Tigers’ use of its satellite as "unauthorized," adding that the company "does not tolerate terrorists or others operating illegally on its satellites."

The Sri Lanka Embassy alleged that despite Intelsat’s assurance that both channels were shut down from its transponder, broadcasts of National Television of Tamil Eelam, and Pulikalin Kural (Voice of Tigers radio) persist.

The embassy subsequently alleged that the satellite provider is violating U.S. law by continuing to broadcast the TV and radio services of the LTTE, which has been labeled by the U.S. government as a terrorist group.