Colonel Soosai
Encyclopedia
Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan , also known by his nom de guerre, Colonel Soosai, was the head of the Sea Tigers
, the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
.
.
Soosai is not just the head of the Sea Tigers
but also a military officer hence his name Colonel Soosai.
's guidance, Soosai carried out the attacks with other tacticians such as Lieutenant Commander Sri Ram. After a major offensive in 2007 by the Sri Lankan Army, the Sea Tigers
became less effective as the Sri Lankan Navy matched their strength with better weapons, and faster boats such as Super Dvora Mk II
. The Sea Tigers was still effective until LTTE lost the war on 19 May 2009.
behind enemy lines into Jaffna
Peninsula. This was the first attack in which LTTE used sea
to transport cadres for an attack
which was likely to be unsuccessful. Soosai said this mission was a do or die mission because Balraj
had to take control of Elephant Pass
in order for the mission to be successful.
and other rebel fighters. At the time of his apparent death, he was wanted by Interpol
because the Magistrate Court in Wattala, Sri Lanka
, had issued an arrest warrant on terrorism
charges.
Sea Tigers
The Sea Tigers was the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the Sri Lankan Civil War. It was founded in 1984. The Sea Tigers had a number of small but effective suicide bomber vessels. During its existence it had gained a reputation as a capable adversary for the Sri Lankan Navy...
, the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam was a separatist militant organization formerly based in northern Sri Lanka. Founded in May 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran, it waged a violent secessionist and nationalist campaign to create an independent state in the north and east of Sri Lanka for Tamil...
.
Personal life
Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan was married to Sathvadevi and they had two children called Suresh and Madhi. The Sri Lankan Army claim that Soosai's wife and children are in custody after they fled to the army's side during war.LTTE
Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan joined LTTE in 1981 along with Pottu AmmanPottu Amman
Shanmugalingam Sivashankar Shanmugalingam Sivashankar Shanmugalingam Sivashankar (Tamil: சன்முகலிங்கம் சிவசங்கரன், also known as Pottu Amman (Tamil: பொட்டு அம்மான் is a Sri Lankan Tamil militant...
.
Soosai is not just the head of the Sea Tigers
Sea Tigers
The Sea Tigers was the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the Sri Lankan Civil War. It was founded in 1984. The Sea Tigers had a number of small but effective suicide bomber vessels. During its existence it had gained a reputation as a capable adversary for the Sri Lankan Navy...
but also a military officer hence his name Colonel Soosai.
Sea Tigers
Colonel Soosai was known as the 'Admiral' for the Sea Tigers. He led the sea tigers and attacked many of Sri Lankan Navy boats. Under Velupillai PrabhakaranVelupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
's guidance, Soosai carried out the attacks with other tacticians such as Lieutenant Commander Sri Ram. After a major offensive in 2007 by the Sri Lankan Army, the Sea Tigers
Sea Tigers
The Sea Tigers was the naval wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam during the Sri Lankan Civil War. It was founded in 1984. The Sea Tigers had a number of small but effective suicide bomber vessels. During its existence it had gained a reputation as a capable adversary for the Sri Lankan Navy...
became less effective as the Sri Lankan Navy matched their strength with better weapons, and faster boats such as Super Dvora Mk II
Super Dvora Mk II class patrol boat
The Super Dvora Mark II fast patrol boats is a high-speed class of patrol boats meant for a variety of naval missions from typical off-shore coastal patrol mission profiles to high-speed, high-maneuver littoral warfare. Built by Israel Aerospace Industries for the Israeli Sea Corps the Super Dvora...
. The Sea Tigers was still effective until LTTE lost the war on 19 May 2009.
Unceasing Waves 3
Colonel Soosai transported 1,200 cadres with BalrajBalraj
Balasegaram Kandiah also known as Balraj. was the senior commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.-Early life:Balasegaram Kandiah was born to Kandiah and Kannagi. Balraj was the youngest of a family of four boys and one girl. Balraj had his primary education at Kokkuthoduwaai in...
behind enemy lines into Jaffna
Jaffna
Jaffna is the capital city of the Northern Province, Sri Lanka. It is the administrative headquarters of the Jaffna district located on a peninsula of the same name. Jaffna is approximately six miles away from Kandarodai which served as a famous emporium in the Jaffna peninsula from classical...
Peninsula. This was the first attack in which LTTE used sea
Sea
A sea generally refers to a large body of salt water, but the term is used in other contexts as well. Most commonly, it means a large expanse of saline water connected with an ocean, and is commonly used as a synonym for ocean...
to transport cadres for an attack
Attack
Attack may refer to:* Attack * The Attack , 1960s* Attack Records, label* Offensive * Charge * Attack - Titled works :* The Attack , book* Attack! , 2003...
which was likely to be unsuccessful. Soosai said this mission was a do or die mission because Balraj
Balraj
Balasegaram Kandiah also known as Balraj. was the senior commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.-Early life:Balasegaram Kandiah was born to Kandiah and Kannagi. Balraj was the youngest of a family of four boys and one girl. Balraj had his primary education at Kokkuthoduwaai in...
had to take control of Elephant Pass
Elephant Pass
Elephant Pass, Northern Province, Sri Lanka is an important military base and formerly the island's largest salt field, located in the gateway of Jaffna Peninsula. It has thus regularly been the site of battles during the civil war....
in order for the mission to be successful.
Claimed Death
On May 18, 2009 the Sri Lankan government claimed that Colonel Soosai was killed when a rocket hit the armored-plated van he was riding in after a two-hour firefight. Troops removed and claimed to have identified his body along with the rebel leader Velupillai PrabhakaranVelupillai Prabhakaran
Thiruvenkadam Velupillai Prabhakaran was the founder and leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam , a militant organization that sought to create an independent Tamil state in the north and east of Sri Lanka...
and other rebel fighters. At the time of his apparent death, he was wanted by Interpol
Interpol
Interpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
because the Magistrate Court in Wattala, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, had issued an arrest warrant on terrorism
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
charges.