Where is LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.?.

On a day when the advancing Sri Lankan armed forces almost captured the Elephant Pass known as the Gateway to Jaffna the question that is now increasingly asked is: Where is LTTE Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The warhorse’s whereabouts has been a matter of speculation and great interest ever since the LTTE’s stranglehold in North Sri Lanka has been undermined.

The question has also become urgent in the light of the fall of Kilinochchi and Elephant Pass. It is also interesting that voices from India (especially the Congress party) have demanded that he be extradited to India as he is a wanted criminal there in the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

The buzz in Sri Lanka today is that Prabhakaran, contrary to belief that he had escaped to a Western country, is still holed up in the forests of Mullaitivu.


Media circles here have quoted Tamil Makkal Vidudalai Puligal (TMVP) Leader and Parliamentarian Vinayagamoorthy Muralidaran alias Karuna as saying that the LTTE Chief was still living in the thick jungles of Mullaitivu. The jungles of Mullaitivu are slowly coming under the control of the Lankan army. Yesterday they made much headway there. Karuna, quoting top level TMVP intelligence sources, said that Prabhakaran continued to give military leadership to his cadres from the jungles.

Lankan sources have also strongly denied the possibility of Prabhakaran having crossed the Palk Straits, seeking refuge in Tamilnadu. Meanwhile on the battle front, the fall of Elephant Pass looks just a few hours away.

Pro-LTTE websites and their proxy politicians have openly expressed fears that they would lose Elephant Pass immediately and their main seaport Mullaittivu and other places of control eventually. But the LTTE is still putting a brave front.

Shivaji Lingam, member of the 22 parliamentarians strong Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the proxy party of the LTTE, has been quoted from Chennai as saying: ‘Even if the LTTE were to lose Mullaittivu also, then too they will continue their struggle.’ The pro- Tamil website, Cyber News said, ‘The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have begun withdrawing from entrenched positions in the strategic Elephant Pass region.

The narrow Isthmus that links the Jaffna peninsula to the Northern mainland known as Wanni by land is often described as the gateway to Jaffna’. Preparations are also afoot to vacate tiger positions in other key places in Eastern Wanni like Mullaittivu, Oddusuddan, Muhamalai, Kilaly and Vatraappalai.

Apparently soldiers are now about one km to the south of Elephant Pass and are near Kurinchatheevu adjacent to Elephant Pass. Realising that Elephant Pass is not defendable the LTTE have begun vacating the area, the sources say. The LTTE cadre fleeing from Elephant Pass, Mullaittivu, Oddusudan and Vatraappalai are expected to hide in heavily entrenched fortified bunkers in the jungles of Mullaittivu.

The Elephant Pass had taken by the LTTE in April 2000 after a fierce and bloody battle with the Sri Lankan army. Nine years later the historic Elephant Pass has now been secured by the government forces.

Forces advance on Mullaitivu

With the fight for liberating Mullaitivu accelerating after the capture of Kilinochchi, the Sri Lanka Air Force carried out two successful air strikes yesterday morning.

“Air Force MI24 gunships carried out air sorties, first on LTTE positions Northeast of Oddusuddan around 6.15 a.m. and the next around 10.30 a.m. on LTTE defences 2.5km South of Mullaitivu,” Air Force spokesman, Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said. The attacks were in support of the ground troops attached to the 59 Division advancing towards Mullaitivu.


Late last week, with the declaration of Kilinochchi capture Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka said that the battle for Mullaitivu has already begun as troops of 59 Division captured around 800 yards of the LTTE-built earth bund in Mullaitivu. Accordingly troops have positioned themselves just 5km south of Mullaitivu and 3km south of LTTE’s main airstrip.


At the moment the Task Force 01 commanded by Brigadier Shavendra Silva is advancing towards Elephant Pass while troops attached to the 57 Division commanded by Major General Jagath Dias are further consolidating their positions in Kilinochchi town area preparing for their forward march. The 59 Division commanded by Brigadier Nandana Udawatta is operating just south of Mullaitivu while Task Forces 02 and 04 are advancing Southwest of the 59 division, commanded by Brigadier Rohana Bandara and Colonel Nishantha Wanniarachchi respectively. Task Force 03, commanded by Brigadier Sathyapriya Liyanage is progressing Northeast of the A9 road.

Army Commander, Lt. General Sarath Fonseka congratulated the victorious troops and their field Commanders at the Vavuniya Security Forces Headquarters for their achievement in Kilinochchi on Friday.

During his discussions with the senior officials in Vavuniya, the Commander briefed them on the next step to be taken in Kilinochchi. Meanwhile the troops who entered Kilinochchi are currently consolidating their position in the area.

Clearing and search operations have been launched with troops giving priority for removal of anti-personnel mines and booby traps. Additional reinforcement are expected to reach Kilinochchi to strengthen the troops who are already there. Meanwhile President Mahinda Rajapaksa has emphasised that the victory of Kilinochchi should not be interpreted as the defeat of the North by the South or as a victory of one community over another.

In his address to the Nation on the television on Friday amidst countrywide celebrations to mark the victory in Kilinochchi, the President added that it was a decisive victory over savage terrorism that has devastating effect on the entire country.


He opined that the victories in Wanni had been achieved, based on the expectations and the mandate given to him by the people at the Presidential Election in 2005.

Meanwhile Major General Jagath Dias who led the troops into Kilinochchi and hoisted the Lion Flag there said, “It is after 10 years we have regained Kilinochchi and we are now in a position to advance towards Jaffna in the North and Mullaitivu in the East.