About me

Kagusthan Ariaratnam is a former child soldier of the Tamil Tigers who later became a defense analyst and consultant with over 25 years of experience. Having fought both as an insurgent with the Tamil Tigers during the Sri Lankan civil war and later against the insurgents as a military intelligence analyst with the Directorate of Military Intelligence of Sri Lanka, Ariaratnam possesses unique knowledge of contemporary counterintelligence, counterinsurgency, and counterterrorism operations. In recognition of his contribution to the "Global War on Terrorism," Ariaratnam received the Institute of Defense and Strategic Studies Award in October 2003. Ariaratnam, a passionate advocate of Open Source Intelligence (OSINT) gathering, co-founded Project O Five, an independent and non-profit initiative based in Ottawa, Ontario. This initiative aims to share his unique knowledge with like-minded groups and redefine the nature of OSINT gathering. Project O Five focuses on various subjects, including global security, international relations, counter-radicalization, and counterterrorism research. The initiative conducts informed strategic and tactical intelligence analysis, threat briefs, and public awareness campaigns. Ariaratnam's declassified work can be accessed by visiting his project website at https://projectofive.ca.