LTTE

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was a Tamil militant organization that sought an independent Tamil state, Tamil Eelam, in the north and east of Sri Lanka. Founded in 1976 by Velupillai Prabhakaran, the group pursued its aims through guerrilla warfare and conventional battles against Sri Lankan security forces and, at times, against Tamil rival groups. The LTTE developed a distinctive military structure, including Sea Tigers (maritime wing) and the Black Tigers (suicide operations), along with political and intelligence components. It financed its activities through fundraising, extortion, and maritime smuggling, including arms procurement via international networks, as well as support from segments of the Tamil diaspora.

The organization controlled territory and administered civilian functions at various points in the Tamil-dominated north and east during the height of the civil war. It conducted political assassinations, targeted bombings, and maritime attacks, and it was responsible for numerous civilian and military casualties on both sides. Notable episodes include the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and prolonged cycles of violence until a 2002 ceasefire, followed by renewed fighting in 2006–2009. The Sri Lankan government finally defeated the LTTE in May 2009; Prabhakaran was killed, and the movement dissolved as a functioning insurgent organization.

The LTTE was designated as a terrorist organization by several countries and international bodies, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, the European Union, India, Australia, and others. Its legacy remains contentious: the impact of the civil war on Tamil civilians, the conduct of both sides during the final stages, and the long-term political settlement for Sri Lanka's minority communities continue to shape debate and policy.