Sri Lankan Defence Ministry on Wednesday said that legal action had not been filed against a former top Tamil Tiger rebel under military custody since 2009.

Defence Ministry spokesman Lakshman Hullugalle told reporters at a media briefing that Kumaran Pathmanathan, also known as KP, is not under military custody anymore.

Pathmanathan was known to be the chief arms procurer for the Tamil Tiger rebels during the war against the Sri Lankan military.

He had several large ships registered under his name and the vessels had been used to smuggle weapons into rebel territory in the north before the rebels were defeated in May 2009.

Sri Lankan military intelligence arrested Pathmanathan in Malaysia following an undercover sting operation and brought him to Colombo where he was kept under military custody.

Since then Pathmanathan has openly expressed regret over his actions and expressed support for the government to assist the war affected families in the former war zones.

Hullugalle said that Pathmanathan is now involved in humanitarian work in the north and the government has given the necessary clearance for him to carry out that work.

The Defence Ministry spokesman also said that some hardcore rebels who are in still in prison have criminal charges filed against them.

The government had last year said that a report on the activities of Pathmanathan will be submitted to parliament once investigations are over.