List of commanders of the LTTE


The following is a list of commanders of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , also known as the Tamil Tigers, a separatist militant Tamil nationalist organisation, which operated in northern and eastern Sri Lanka from the late 1970s to May 2009, until it was defeated by the Sri Lankan Military.
Nom de GuerreReal NameDate & Place
of Birth
Date & Place
of Death
PositionNotes
Thambi and Anna Velupillai
Prabhakaran

Valvettithurai

Vellamullivaikkal
Leader of the LTTEPrabhakaran 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 Shivashankar1962
Nayanmarkaddu

Vellamullivaikkal
Leader of Tiger Organization Security Intelligence Service and Black TigersPottu 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
Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam
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 LTTEAs 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 AmmanVinayagamoorthy Muralitharan 1966
Kiran, Batticaloa
LTTE leader of the Eastern ProvinceKaruna 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. SeelanCharles Lucas AnthonyChurch Street,
Trincomalee

Meesalai
Second-in-command of LTTE as of 1983Seelan 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 KittuSathasivam Krishnakumar
Velvettithurai

Indian Ocean
Second-in-Command of LTTE, Leader of shippingCol. 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.
MahattayaGopalaswamy Mahendraraja1956
Point Pedro

Chavakacheri
Second-in-Command of LTTE, Leader of People's Front of Liberation Tigers, Political wing of LTTELTTE 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 loyal to him, were lined up in a coconut estate located near Chavakacheri, shot and killed and all the bodies were dumped.
ThamilselvanS. P. Thamilselvan
Chavakacheri

Kilinochchi
Political leader of LTTEOne of the prominent negotiators of LTTE. Killed by a precise Sri Lanka Air Force bombing targeting him.
Colonel ShankarVaithilingam SornalingamSeptember 1949
Oddusuddan
Founder and leader of the air wing and marine division of LTTEShankar 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 SoosaiThillaiyampalam Sivanesan
Vellamullivaikkal
Head of the Sea Tigers, naval wing of the LTTEHe 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 BalrajBalasegaram Kandiah
Kokkuththoduvai

Vellamullivaikkal
Commander of the Charles Antony BrigadeBalraj 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 Baheerathakumar1965
Vavuniya

Aanandapuram
Overall military commander of LTTE in the final phase of Sri Lankan Civil WarTheepan 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. Before his death he was the unofficial military commander of the LTTE Northern fighting formations.
Rathnam Master
Vellamullivaikkal
Head of LTTE Military Intelligence wing, head of the air wing and the Radha BrigadeA personal bodyguard of Prabhakaran, and led the LTTE military wing after Colonel Theepan was killed in April 2009.
Mathavan MasterRagunathan Pathmanathan1958
Alaveddy

Vellamullivaikkal
Head of LTTE Intelligence Training Centre, Training and Technology Department, Research & Publications Department.Mathavan Master was a senior member of the Tiger Organization Security Intelligence Service. He joined the LTTE in 1987. He was responsible for the training and development of advanced technologies for support of both the National and Military Intelligence : modifying weapons, explosive-filled vehicles, spy tools, etc. He also undertook the task of training TOSIS operatives. He was killed while fighting in Vellamullivaikkal, Mullaitivu in 2009 and his body was recovered by the SLA, whom listed him as the LTTE Internal Intelligence leader.
Kapil Amman
Vellamullivaikkal
Deputy leader of Tiger Organization Security Intelligence Service A long time deputy of the LTTE intelligence head Pottu Amman.
NadesanBalasingham Nadesan
Vellamullivaikkal
Political leader of LTTE, Chief of LTTE PoliceNadesan 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
alias
Bravo
Sivanadan Somasekaran1960
Vellamullivaikkal
Leader of the LTTE artillery wingHe led 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 CharlesShanmuganathan Ravishankar1965
Mannar District
Head of LTTE Military Intelligence wingCharles 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
Vellamullivaikkal
Batticaloa District & Ampara District commanderHe 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
Soosapillai Joseph Anthonydas
Trincomalee

Vellamullivaikkal
LTTE leader of TrincomaleeHe 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.
PulidevanSeevaratnam Pulidevan
Vellamullivaikkal
Head of the LTTE Peace SecretariatPulidevan was a member of the LTTE negotiating team during peace talks.
Shashikumar MasterMithiran Selvarathnam
Vellamullivaikkal
Head of the LTTE mapping and surveying divisionDied during the final battle on 18 May 2009.
Daya MasterVelayutham DayanidhiHead of the LTTE media divisionSurrendered to the Sri Lankan Army during final stages of war.
George MasterVelupillai Kumaru PancharatnamTranslator of LTTE leader Prabhakaran and S. P. ThamilsenvanSurrendered to the Sri Lankan Army towards the end of the war.
Colonel Gadaffi1961
Aanandapuram
Head of LTTE military schoolHe was a senior commander of the LTTE. He was from Nelliyady. He was killed in early April 2009 in Puthukkudiyiruppu. 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

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 NeminathanElalai, JaffnaServed as the special commander of the elite LTTE Leopard Commandos and had played a key role in developing its artillery wing.
Colonel PathumanTrincomalee District commanderThe former LTTE commander for the Trincomalee District during the 2002 ceasefire period.
Colonel RamananKandiah Ulaganathan1966
Palukamam, Batticaloa

Vavunathivu
An LTTE explosives expert.
NediyavanPerinpanayagam SivaparanLTTE leader of NorwayWith 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
Aanandapuram
Commander of Sothiya RegimentA 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
Aanandapuram
Commander of Malathi RegimentA 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 AkbarVeerapathirar Pernibarasa
Muhamalai FDL
Leader of the Victor anti-tank regimentHe was killed on 7 October 2006 at the Muhamalai Forward Defence Line.
Lt. Colonel Amuthab
Aanandapuram
Charles Anthony Brigade commanderHe 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 AppaiahI. RasiahKnown as the 'Scientist of LTTE'.
Lt. Colonel ArivuTrincomalee DistrictHe 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
Aanandapuram
Commander of Charles Anthony BrigadeHe 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 KumarappaB. Rathnapalan
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.

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
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 NizamThambirasa Kuhasanthan2001
Mullaitivu District
Head of Military Intelligence 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 PonnammanYogaratnam Kugan1987
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 PulendranK. Dharmarajah
Palali
Trincomalee District commanderPulendran 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 RathaHe 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 SanthoshamK. Umainesan
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 ThileepanRasaiah Parthipan1962
Jaffna
Died during a hunger strike against the IPKF operations in Sri Lanka.
Lt. Colonel VeeramaniSubramaniam VadivelHe 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 VictorMarcelin Fuselus1984Mannar District commanderHe was a Mannar District commander of the Tamil Tigers, until he was killed in October 1986 by the Sri Lanka Army. He ordered the infamous Anuradhapura massacre, which killed 146 Sinhalese civilians in May 1985. The Victor Anti Tank and Armoured Unit of the LTTE was named after him.
RadhaAnthony KaththiarMannar District commanderHe was the Mannar District commander of the Tamil Tigers following Victor's death. While under Victor's command, he organized and executed the Anuradhapura massacre.
Major Mano2001Head of Communications The LTTE's head of eastern communications, he was killed by a Sri Lanka Army LRRP unit in 2001.
Captain MillerVallipuram VasanthanFirst 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 PanditharS. RavindranHe 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 SellakiliSathasivam Selvanayakam
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.
CheliyanOctober 2008?
May 2009?
Deputy Leader, Sea TigersHe 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 Amaran2001Deputy Leader, Sea TigersHe was a deputy Sea Tiger commander. He was killed along with his family by a Sri Lanka Army LRRP unit in 2001.
GopalNadarasa Dushiyanthan
Aanandapuram
Commander of Kutti Sri Mortar UnitHe 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.
KeerthiManikkapodi Easwaran
Aanandapuram
Head of Intelligence, Batticaloa DistrictHe was a senior commander of the Tamil Tigers, he was killed in early April 2009 in Puthukkudiyiruppu. 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.
MarshallIrasaiah IlanthirayanLTTE spokespersonHe was the LTTE's military spokesperson and was often in contact with international media during the immediate post-ceasefire era.
NageshSelvarathnam Sundaram
Batticaloa District

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. He was a senior commander of the Jeyanthan Brigade.
Ramalingam Paramadeva1984Senior leader, BatticaloaOne of the architects of the 1983 Batticaloa Jailbreak.
Sothiya
Maria Vasanthi MichaelShe died of illness in 1990 and had one of the female fighting formations of the LTTE, the Sothiya Regiment, named after her.
Captain Morris Paratharajan Thiyagarajah
Point Pedro
Point Pedro District LeaderHe was in charge of Point Pedro area & was killed in May 1989 in the battle of military offensives of Indian Peace Keeping Forces. It was during that difficult time Col.Charles functioning under the leadership of Captain Morris who was in charge of Point Pedro area, faced the military offensives of Indian Peace Keeping Forces.
Lt.Conol Jonny Viyakumar
Point Pedro
Point Pedro District LeaderHe was in charge of Point Pedro area & was killed in May 1989 in the battle of military offensives of Indian Peace Keeping Forces. Jony who was killed by IPKF on his way back to India after meeting LTTE chief Velupillai Prabhakaran at his Manal Aru hideout..