List of Commanders of The LTTE

List Of Commanders Of The LTTE

The following is a list of commanders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), also known as the Tamil Tigers, a separatist militant Tamil nationalist organisation, which operated in northern and eastern Sri Lanka from late 1970s to May 2009, until it was defeated by the Sri Lankan Military. The military designations in front of their names are part of their aliases, and are not recognised military ranks.

Nom de Guerre Real Name Date & Place
of Birth
Date & Place
of Death
Position(s) Notes
Thambi (used only by closest associates) and Annan (elder brother) Velupillai
Prabhakaran
(1954-11-26)26 November 1954
Velvettithurai
19 May 2009(2009-05-19) (aged 54)
Vellamullivaikkal
Leader of the LTTE Prabhakaran was the supreme leader of LTTE, which waged a 25-year violent secessionist campaign in Sri Lanka. His death in Nanthikadal lagoon, Vellamullivaikkal, Mullaitivu, brought an immediate end to the Sri Lankan Civil War.
Pottu Amman alias
Papa Oscar alias
Sobhigemoorthy alias Kailan
Shanmugalingam Sivashankar 1962
Nayanmarkaddu
18 May 2009(2009-05-18)
(aged 47)
Vellamullivaikkal
Leader of Tiger Organization Security Intelligence Service (TOSIS) and Black Tigers Pottu Amman was the second-in-command of LTTE. His death was initially disputed because the dead body was not found. But in October 2010, TADA court judge K. Dakshinamurthy dropped charges against Amman, on the Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi, accepting the CBI's report on his demise.
Selvarasa Pathmanathan
alias Kumaran Pathmanathan
alias KP (23+ aliases)
Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam (1955-04-06)6 April 1955
Kankesanthurai
Leader of LTTE since the death of Prabhakaran. Prior to that, served as the chief procurer of arms and head of the "Department of International Relations" of LTTE As the chief arms procurer since the origin of the organisation, Pathmanathan was involved in all the vital administrative issues of LTTE. He held 200+ passports with himself. On 21 July 2009, the Executive Committee of the LTTE, issued a statement announcing that Patmanathan had been appointed leader of the LTTE. But on 5 August 2009, Sri Lankan intelligence agents with the aid of the local authorities, captured Pathmanathan in Malaysia and deported him to Sri Lanka.
Karuna Amman Vinayagamoorthy Muralitharan 1966
Kiran, Batticaloa
LTTE leader of the Eastern Province Karuna Amman was a major commander of the LTTE. He was involved in many successful LTTE attacks including the Second Battle of Elephant Pass. In March 2004, he broke away from the Tamil Tigers and claimed renounced violence. In 2007, he created the political party TMVP. But in 2008, he was appointed as a National List Member of Parliament. Later, he was sworn in as Minister of National Integration.
Lt. Colonel Seelan Charles Lucas Anthony Church Street,
Trincomalee
15 July 1983(1983-07-15)
Meesalai
Second-in-command of LTTE as of 1983 Seelan was Prabhakaran's right hand man in the early stages of LTTE. He was instrumental in the rising of LTTE from an armed criminal gang to a deadly military force. Seelan's death on 15 July 1983 prompted Prabhakaran to ambush the Sri Lanka Army patrol Four Four Bravo to avenge his death. The killing of 13 soldiers on 23 July 1983, resulted in the Black July ethnic riots, which marked the beginning of 26 year civil war. LTTE supermo Prabhakaran paid tribute to Seelan aka Charles Anthony by naming his elder son and the premiere fighting brigade of LTTE after him.
Colonel Kittu Sathasivam Krishnakumar (1960-01-02)2 January 1960
Velvettithurai
14 January 1993(1993-01-14) (aged 33)
Indian Ocean
Second-in-Command of LTTE, Leader of shipping Col. Kittu was the Second-in-Command of LTTE in the 1980s. He became crippled in a shoot-out happened in 1987. Kittu committed suicide when he was going to be caught by the Indian Navy.
Mahattaya Gopalaswamy Mahendraraja 1956
Point Pedro
28 December 1994(1994-12-28) (aged 38)
Chavakacheri
Second-in-Command of LTTE (1987-1993), Leader of People's Front of Liberation Tigers, Political wing of LTTE LTTE intelligence wing found Mahattaya was leaking information to India's Research and Analysis Wing, and plotting to assassinate Prabhakaran. He was arrested in March 1993, and executed in December 1994, on the orders of Prabhakaran. It was said that Mahattaya, along with nearly 257 cadres who were loayal to him, were lined up in a coconut estate located near Chavakacheri, shot and killed and all the bodies were dumped.
Thamilchelvan Suppiah Paramu Thamilselvan (1967-08-29)29 August 1967
Chavakacheri
2 November 2007(2007-11-02) (aged 40)
Kilinochchi
Political leader of LTTE One of the prominent negotiators of LTTE. Killed by a precise Sri Lanka Air Force bombing targeting him.
Colonel Shankar Vaithilingam Sornalingam September 1949 26 September 2001(2001-09-26) (aged 52)
Oddusuddan
Founder and leader of the air wing and marine division of LTTE Shankar was a relative and one of the closest lieutenants of LTTE leader Prabhakaran. He is killed by a claymore attack of the deep penetration unit of Sri Lankan army in 2001.
Colonel Soosai Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan (1963-10-16)16 October 1963 18 May 2009(2009-05-18) (aged 45)
Vellamullivaikkal
Head of the Sea Tigers, naval wing of the LTTE He is responsible for many successful attacks against Sri Lanka Navy. He was narrowly ezcaped during the Vadamarachchi Operation, but was killed during the Sri Lanka Army's final onslaught towards LTTE held area in 2009.
Brigadier Balraj Balasegaram Kandiah (1965-11-27)27 November 1965
Kokkuththoduvai
18 May 2008(2008-05-18) (aged 42)
Vellamullivaikkal
Commander of the Charles Antony Brigade Balraj died due to a sudden heart attack. He is responsible for many successful attacks of LTTE including Second Battle of Elephant Pass.
Colonel Theepan
alias Tango Papa
Velayuthapillai Baheerathakumar 1965
Vavuniya
5 April 2009(2009-04-05)
(aged 44)
Aanandapuram
Overall military commander of LTTE in the final phase of Sri Lankan Civil War Theepan was promoted posthumously to Brigadier. He was a native of Thenmarachi division of Jaffna District. He joined LTTE in 1984 and eventually became a senior commander. He has participated and lead number of battles against Sri Lankan Army. He was killed along with 615 others in early April 2009 in Puthukkudiyiruppu (Mullaitivu). Before his death he was the unofficial military commander of the LTTE Northern fighting formations.
Rathnam Master 18 May 2009(2009-05-18)
Vellamullivaikkal
Head of LTTE Military Intelligence wing, head of the air wing and the Radha Brigade A personal bodyguard of Prabhakaran, and led the LTTE military wing after Colonel Theepan was killed in April 2009.
Kapil Amman 18 May 2009(2009-05-18)
Vellamullivaikkal
Deputy leader of Tiger Organization Security Intelligence Service (TOSIS) A long time deputy of the LTTE intelligence head Pottu Amman.
Nadesan Balasingham Nadesan 18 May 2009(2009-05-18)
Vellamullivaikkal
Political leader of LTTE (Since November 2007), Chief of LTTE Police Nadesan was the Police Chief of LTTE. He also held the position of Political leader since the death of S. P. Thamilselvan in 2007. Nadesan was killed on 18 May 2009 in Vellamullivaikkal, Mullaitivu.
Colonel Bhanu
(Banu) alias
Bravo
Sivanadan Somasekaran 1960 18 May 2009(2009-05-18)
(aged 49)
Vellamullivaikkal
Leader of the LTTE artillery wing He lead the LTTE artillery unit in the Second Battle of Elephant Pass and hoisted the LTTE flag at the Elephant Pass base in 2000. He was killed during the final battle of the war, on 18 May 2009.
Colonel Charles Shanmuganathan Ravishankar 1965 6 January 2008(2008-01-06) (aged 43)
Mannar District
Head of LTTE Military Intelligence wing Charles was killed by a Sri Lankan Army LRRP unit in 2008. He was involved in the planning of Central Bank bombing and many other successful Black Tiger attacks.
Colonel Ramesh
alias Romeo Siera
T. Thurairajasingham 18 May 2009(2009-05-18)
Vellamullivaikkal
Batticaloa District & Ampara District commander He was the LTTE commander for Batticaloa and Ampara districts during the 2002 ceasefire era. It is believed he was killed on 18 May 2009.
Colonel Sornam
(Swarnam)
Soosapillai Joseph Anthonydas (1964-04-01)1 April 1964
Trincomalee
16 May 2009(2009-05-16) (aged 45)
Vellamullivaikkal
LTTE leader of Trincomalee He used to be a personal body guard of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and a senior commander of the LTTE. It is believed that he was killed in May 2009.
Pulidevan Seevaratnam Pulidevan 18 May 2009(2009-05-18)
Vellamullivaikkal
Head of the LTTE Peace Secretariat Pulidevan was a member of the LTTE negotiating team during peace talks.
Shashikumar Master Mithiran Selvarathnam 18 May 2009(2009-05-18)
Vellamullivaikkal
Head of the LTTE mapping and surveying division Died during the final battle on 18 May 2009.
Daya Master Velayutham Dayanidhi Head of the LTTE media division Surrendered to the Sri Lankan Army during final stages of war.
George Master Velupillai Kumaru Pancharatnam Translator of LTTE leader Prabhakaran and S. P. Thamilsenvan Surrendered to the Sri Lankan Army towards the end of the war.
Colonel Gadaffi 1961 5 April 2009(2009-04-05)
(aged 48)
Aanandapuram
Head of LTTE military school He was a senior commander of the LTTE. He was from Nelliyady. He was killed in early April 2009 in Puthukkudiyiruppu (Mullaitivu). At the time of his death, he was the head of Tamil Tiger military school. He also functioned as either deputy or leader of some of the Tamil Tiger military divisions. It is claimed that Gadaffi brought down several Sri Lankan Air Force aircraft through his shoulder fired SAM-7 missiles.
Colonel Jeyam
(Jayam)
21 April 2009(2009-04-21)
Mullaitivu District
A senior LTTE commander, originally from the east of Sri Lanka. He was a member of the LTTE delegation that attended the Geneva peace talks between the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka. He is not to be confused with a TMVP commander by the same name, who is also from the east of Sri Lanka.
Colonel Raju alias
Kuyilan
Ambalavanar Neminathan Elalai, Jaffna 25 August 2002(2002-08-25) Served as the special commander of the elite LTTE Leopard Commandos and had played a key role in developing the its artillery wing.
Colonel Pathuman Trincomalee District commander The former LTTE commander for the Trincomalee District during the 2002 ceasefire period.
Colonel Ramanan Kandiah Ulaganathan 1966
Palukamam, Batticaloa
21 May 2006(2006-05-21)
(aged 40)
Vavunathivu
An LTTE explosives expert.
Nediyavan Perinpanayagam Sivaparan LTTE leader of Norway With the demise of LTTE in May 2009, Nediyavan appeared as the military leader of LTTE. He was apprehended by Norwegian authorities in May 2011.
Colonel Thurka 5 April 2009(2009-04-05)
Aanandapuram
Commander of Sothiya Regiment A female commander of the LTTE, she is the leader of the all-female Sothiya Regiment. Reported to have been killed on 5 April 2009 during the Battle of Aanandapuram.
Colonel Vithusha 5 April 2009(2009-04-05)
Aanandapuram
Commander of Malathi Regiment A female commander of the LTTE, and the leader of the all-female Malathi Regiment. Reported to have been killed on 5 April 2009 during the Battle of Aanandapuram.
Lt. Colonel Akbar Veerapathirar Pernibarasa 7 October 2006(2006-10-07)
Muhamalai FDL
Leader of the Victor anti-tank regiment He was killed on the 7th of October 2006 at the Muhamalai Forward Defence Line.
Lt. Colonel Amuthab 5 April 2009(2009-04-05)
Aanandapuram
Charles Anthony Brigade commander He was a senior LTTE commander, was also the head of Charles Anthony Brigade. He was a battle hardened commander & was killed in April 2009 in the Battle of Aanandapuram.
Lt. Colonel Appaiah I. Rasiah 24 December 1997(1997-12-24) Known as the 'Scientist of LTTE'.
Lt. Colonel Arivu Trincomalee District He was a senior commander of the LTTE, he served in Charles Anthony Brigade as a senior commander. Believed to have been in killed in Trincomalee District in the mid 2000s.
Lt. Colonel Gobith 5 April 2009(2009-04-05)
Aanandapuram
Commander of Charles Anthony Brigade He was a senior LTTE commander, was also the head of Charles Anthony Brigade. He was a battle hardened commander & was killed in April 2009 in the Battle of Aanandapuram.
Lt. Colonel Kumarappa B. Rathnapalan 5 October 1987(1987-10-05)
Palali
He was taken into custody by Sri Lanka Navy along with 16 others in the mid sea, and brought to Sri Lanka Army base in Palali. When the Sri Lanka Army attempted to take them to Colombo for interrogation, he committed suicide on 5 October 1987.
Lt. Colonel Lawrence 16 May 2009(2009-05-16)
Vellamullivaikkal
He was a senior commander of the LTTE, he served in the northern front. It is believed that he was killed in May 2009.
Lt. Colonel Nakulan
(Nagulan)
May 2007
Eastern Province
He was a senior commander of the Tamil Tigers, he served in Charles Anthony Brigade as a senior commander. Believed to have been killed in eastern Sri Lanka in May 2007.
Lt. Colonel Nizam Thambirasa Kuhasanthan 2001
Mullaitivu District
Head of Military Intelligence (East) He was the LTTE military intelligence wing leader for the east of Sri Lanka. He was killed by a Sri Lanka Army LRRP unit in 2001.
Lt. Colonel Ponnamman Yogaratnam Kugan 1987
Navatkuly
He is an old boy of Jaffna Hindu College and a college all rounder. He was killed in 1987 in an explosion during an attempt to attack the Sri Lanka Army camp in Navatkuly, Jaffna.
Lt. Colonel Pulendran K. Dharmarajah 10 October 1987(1987-10-10)
Palali
Trincomalee District commander Pulendran was one of the early members of the LTTE. He was the military commander in the Trincomalee District. He committed suicide as the Army attempted to take him to Colombo for interrogation, after being apprehended.
Lt Colonel Ratha He was a senior commander of the LTTE, he has been credited with many attack against Sri Lankan forces. He was killed in the late 1980s. The name 'Ratha' can refer a male or female. The Ratha Regiment is named in honour of him.
Lt. Colonel Santhosham K. Umainesan 21 October 1987(1987-10-21)
Kondavil
He was killed on 21 October 1987 at Kondavil in Jaffna in a battle with the IPKF. He was active in the Trincomalee District of Sri Lanka. He was from Ariyalai, Jaffna District, Sri Lanka.
Lt. Colonel Thileepan Rasaiah Parthipan 1962 26 September 1987(1987-09-26) (aged 25)
Jaffna
Died during a hunger strike against the IPKF operations in Sri Lanka.
Lt. Colonel Veeramani Subramaniam Vadivel 24 May 2006(2006-05-24) He was a senior commander of the LTTE, he was killed in an accidentail explosion on 24 May 2006. He served as a senior commander in the Charles Anthony Brigade and Tamil Tiger northern forces. He was from Vavuniya District
Lt. Colonel Victor Marcelin Fuselus 1984 Mannar District commander He was a Mannar District commander of the Tamil Tigers, until he was killed in 1984 by the Sri Lanka Army. The Victor Anti Tank and Armoured Unit of the LTTE was named after him.
Major Mano 2001 Head of Communications (East) The LTTE's head of eastern communications, he was killed by a Sri Lanka Army LRRP unit in 2001.
Captain Miller Vallipuram Vasanthan (1966-01-01)1 January 1966 5 July 1987(1987-07-05) (aged 21) First Black Tiger for the LTTE. He drove a small truck laden with explosives into a Sri Lanka Army camp in Nelliady MMV, Karaveddy in Jaffna peninsula, killing himself and 128 Sri Lankan soldiers.
Captain Pandithar S. Ravindran 9 January 1985(1985-01-09) He was a childhood friend of Velupillai Prabhakaran and was the LTTE's accredited vice captain. He was killed by the Sri Lanka Army on 9 January 1985.
Lieutenant Sellakili Sathasivam Selvanayakam 23 July 1983(1983-07-23)
Thirunelveli
He was the only LTTE cadre to be killed in an ambush in Thirunelveli in Jaffna that killed 13 Sri Lanka Army soldiers on 23 July 1983, the incident that sparked the Black July riots across the country. He was the leader of the group that carried out the attack.
Cheliyan October 2008?
May 2009?
Deputy Leader, Sea Tigers He was a Sea Tiger deputy leader. It is claimed that a Sri Lankan Army LRRP killed him in October 2008. However there were reports that he was killed in May 2009.
Gangai Amaran 2001 Deputy Leader, Sea Tigers He was a deputy Sea Tiger commander. He was killed along with his family by a Sri Lanka Army LRRP unit in 2001.
Gopal Nadarasa Dushiyanthan 5 April 2009(2009-04-05)
Aanandapuram
Commander of Kutti Sri Mortar Unit He was a senior commander of the LTTE and was also the leader of Kutti Sri Mortar Unit. He participated in many battles against the Sri Lankan Army, was killed in early April 2009 in Puthukkudiyiruppu (Mullaitivu).
Keerthi Manikkapodi Easwaran 5 April 2009(2009-04-05)
Aanandapuram
Head of Intelligence, Batticaloa District He was a senior commander of the Tamil Tigers, he was killed in early April 2009 in Puthukkudiyiruppu (Mullaitivu). He was from Batticaloa District and served as the Tamil Tiger intelligence chief there. He also served in the Jeyanthan Brigade as a senior commander.
Marshall Irasaiah Ilanthirayan LTTE spokesperson He was the LTTE's military spokesperson and was often in contact with international media during the immediate post-ceasefire era.
Nagesh Selvarathnam Sundaram (1970-01-15)15 January 1970
Batticaloa District
5 April 2009(2009-04-05) (aged 39)
Aanandapuram
He was a senior commander of the LTTE, participated in may battles against the Sri Lankan Army in the east and north of Sri Lanka. He was killed in early April 2009 in Puthukkudiyiruppu (Mullaitivu). He was a senior commander of the Jeyanthan Brigade.
Ramalingam Paramadeva 1984 Senior leader, Batticaloa One of the architects of the 1983 Batticaloa Jailbreak.
Sothiya
(Sothia)
Maria Vasanthi Michael (1963-09-20)20 September 1963 11 January 1990(1990-01-11) (aged 26) She died of illness in 1990 and had one of the female fighting formations of the LTTE, the Sothiya Regiment, named after her.

Read more about List Of Commanders Of The LTTE:  See Also

Famous quotes containing the words list of and/or list:

    The advice of their elders to young men is very apt to be as unreal as a list of the hundred best books.
    Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. (1841–1935)

    Modern tourist guides have helped raised tourist expectations. And they have provided the natives—from Kaiser Wilhelm down to the villagers of Chichacestenango—with a detailed and itemized list of what is expected of them and when. These are the up-to- date scripts for actors on the tourists’ stage.
    Daniel J. Boorstin (b. 1914)