Colombo, July 18 (IANS) Sri Lankan police Wednesday said they have arrested a wanted Tamil Tiger rebel as he attempted to return to the island nation from Qatar, Xinhua reported.

Police spokesman Ajith Rohana said the Tamil Tiger rebel - identified as Sinathamby Pathmanathan - had fled the country during the civil war.

He was arrested in the island's only international airport just outside Colombo after arriving from Qatar.

Pathmanathan had an arrest warrant against his name from a court in the eastern town of Batticaloa but had been evading arrest over his involvement in several terrorist activities.

Police said he was involved in planting explosives on electricity transformers in Batticaloa during the conflict.

Last year, his wife had filed a complaint with the police saying he was missing. It gave the impression he may have been abducted, police said.

He is now being questioned by police and will be presented in court.