25 Facts About Velupillai Prabhakaran

Velupillai Prabhakaran was the youngest of four children, born in Valvettithurai, on Sri Lanka's Jaffna peninsula's northern coast.

Velupillai Prabhakaran, who had said, "I would prefer to die in honour rather than being caught alive by the enemy", was killed in a firefight with the Sri Lankan Army in May 2009.

Velupillai Prabhakaran's reported death and the subsequent ceasefire announcement by Selvarasa Pathmanathan, the Tigers' chief of international relations, brought an end to the armed conflict.

Velupillai Prabhakaran himself argued that he chose military means only after observing that nonviolent means were ineffectual and obsolete, especially after the Tamil Eelam revolutionary Thileepan's fatal hunger strike in 1987 had no effect.

Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the District Land Officer in the Ceylon Government.

Velupillai Prabhakaran came from an influential and wealthy family who owned and managed the major Hindu temples in Valvettithurai.

In 1973, Velupillai Prabhakaran teamed up with Chetti Thanabalasingam and with a fraction of the Tamil Manavar Peravai to form the Tamil New Tigers.

In October 2010 the charges against Velupillai Prabhakaran were dropped by the TADA Court after the Central Bureau of Investigation filed a report stating that he was dead and the case was closed.

Velupillai Prabhakaran died along with around 100 other LTTE fighters.

Karuna Amman claimed Velupillai Prabhakaran shot himself but it was denied by Fonseka who claimed the injury was from shrapnel citing the lack of an exit wound.

In 2009 a Tamil website showed an image showing Velupillai Prabhakaran viewing a news report of his death in TV which was sent to France 24 as proof of his survival.

In 2010 Pro-LTTE website TamilWin claimed that the body of Velupillai Prabhakaran shown belonged to a Sri Lankan soldier showing images of a Velupillai Prabhakaran look-alike in the Sri Lankan army.

The theory of Velupillai Prabhakaran's survival is supported by Tamil Nadu politician Vaiko who claims Velupillai Prabhakaran would emerge from hiding at the right time.

The claim of Velupillai Prabhakaran's survival was reiterated in 2023 by Indian activist Pazha Nedumaran, who declared through a press conference held at Thanjavur that the slain leader of LTTE is "still alive and doing well" and that he has been in contact with Velupillai Prabhakaran's family.

The claim was rejected by Sri Lanka which issued a statement stating that Velupillai Prabhakaran's corpse had been confirmed by his close associates as well as DNA testing.

Velupillai Prabhakaran was influenced by prominent Indian nationalists Subhas Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh, both of whom participated in the revolutionary movement for Indian independence.

Velupillai Prabhakaran never developed a systematic philosophy, but did declare that his goal was 'revolutionary socialism and the creation of an egalitarian society'.

Velupillai Prabhakaran is often seen as a martyr to the Eelam Tamil people.

Velupillai Prabhakaran explicitly stated that an armed struggle is the only way to resist asymmetric warfare, in which one side, that of the Sri Lankan government, is armed and the other comparatively unarmed.

Tactically, Velupillai Prabhakaran perfected the recruitment and use of suicide bomber units.

Velupillai Prabhakaran was married to Mathivathani Erambu on 1 October 1984.

Velupillai Prabhakaran had over the years built up the LTTE into a powerful movement running a shadow state and had acquired the status of being "Thesiya Thalaivar".

Velupillai Prabhakaran was called thambi, meaning "younger brother", by Eelam Tamil elders, which was his pet name since he was the youngest in his family.

Velupillai Prabhakaran was called "Karikalan" for his bravery and his administration.

Velupillai Prabhakaran was additionally raised to divine status as Sooriyathevan by his followers.