Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan

Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan
Colonel Soosai with Pulidevan on fibreglass fast attack craft at Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka, 2003
Born	October 16, 1963(1963-10-16)
Died	May 18, 2009(2009-05-18) (aged 45) Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka
Nationality	Sri Lankan
Other names	Soosai Colonel Soosai
Ethnicity	Tamil
Occupation	Tamil Militant
Known for	Sea Tigers
Religion	Hindu
Spouse	Sathvadevi[1]
Children	Suresh Madhi

Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan (Tamil: தில்லையம்பலம் சிவனேசன்; born October 16, 1963^[2] - May 18, 2009), 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.^[3][4]

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.^[5]

LTTE

Thillaiyampalam Sivanesan joined LTTE in 1981 along with Pottu Amman.

Soosai is not just the head of the Sea Tigers 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 Prabhakaran'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.

Unceasing Waves 3

Colonel Soosai transported 1,200 cadres with Balraj 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.

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 Prabhakaran 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.

See also

• Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
• Sea Tigers

References

1. ^ http://www.lankaweb.com/news/items/2009/05/16/sea-tiger-chief-soosai%E2%80%99s-wife-son-and-daughter-caught-escaping-with-other-civilians/ Sea Tiger leader Soosai's wife, son and daughter flee with other civilians
2. ^ http://www.interpol.int/public/Data/Wanted/Notices/Data/2006/76/2006_57476.asp Thillayampalam, Sivanesan
3. ^ "Council on Foreign Relations". http://www.cfr.org/publication/9242. 
4. ^ "MIPT Terrorism Knowledge Base". http://www.tkb.org/Group.jsp?groupID=3623. 
5. ^ http://www.asiantribune.com/?q=node/17565

Persondata
Name	Sivanesan, Thillaiyampalam
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	October 16, 1963
Place of birth
Date of death	May 18, 2009
Place of death	Mullaitivu, Sri Lanka