Prabhakaran’s body found - Army Chief

Chandrika Perera and Mahinda Kulatunaga

Army Commander General Sarath Fonseka yesterday confirmed that the body of LTTE leader V. Prabhakaran was found yesterday.

According to defence sources, the LTTE leader who has ordered thousands of Tamil youth to give up their lives for him had tried to save his life until the last moment. The terror chief’s body was found by the 53 Division troops led by Major General Kamal Gunaratne, the sources said.

The body was found near the Nanthikadal lagoon by soldiers of the 53 Division commanded by Major General Kamal Gunaratane. Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said that Prabhakaran had died due to gun shot injury to his head.

The Army had found his Identity Card and passport in his body. Earlier the bodies of senior LTTE cadres Pottu Amman, Soosai, Pulithevan and Prabhakaran’s son, Charles Anthony, Ramesh and P. Nadesan who died during the time of the final confrontation between the Armed Forces and the LTTE were found. Altogether about 350 bodies of LTTE cadres who died in the confrontation were found.