Ramanan, an accomplished Planning Commander- Balraj, Pottu

[TamilNet, Thursday, 25 May 2006, 08:10 GMT]
Senior LTTE Commander Col. Balraj, addressing the people gathered in Kilinochchi Wednesday to pay respects to Tiger Senior Commander Col. Ramanan said Ramanan was a gifted planning Commander skilled in handling information. Meanwhile, the Tiger Intelligence Chief Pottu, in an interview to the National Television of Tamil Eelam (NTT), on Wednesday revealed that Ramanan was a key brain behind the weakening of the Razeek paramilitary group in Batticaloa, sources from Kilinochchi said.



Colonel Balraj speaking at the event said that Ramanan's sudden appearance in an unexpected location, was one of the main reasons that forced renegade Karuna to abandon the idea of holding a ground in Batticaloa, and flee from his base.

"One of the key strategies of the LTTE is its impenetrable secrecy," Balraj said. "Col. Ramanan had served the liberation struggle for 20 long years. Even I didn't have the opportunity to meet him until a few months ago. Not all of our key cadres are exposed to the world outside," Col. Balraj said.

Striking a political note, Col. Balraj said that among all the leaders in the south, Ranasinghe Premadasa was a realist. Of all the Sinhala leaders, he was one who had the courage to strike a deal," observed Balraj.

"But, he too was poisoned by the deep rooted Sinhala supremacist mindset."

"Having slain the JVP rebel leader Rohana Wijeweera, Premadasa thought he could deal in the same way with our leadership," Balraj said.

"Now, the incumbent Sri Lankan president too is pursuing a similar path leading his nation to a dead end," Balaraj said.

"The Fourth Eelam War will be the final war, and a terrible war that will bring the long awaited liberation to our people and our homeland. We are certainly positioned to be victorious. The people are with us and our leader will lead us to victory," concluded Balraj.

The event, paying homage to Col. Ramanan was held in the Cultural Hall in Kilinochchi around 4.00 p.m Wednesday presided by Mr. S. Sivapalan of Kilinochchi district Upsurging Assembly, began with the lighting of the Principal Flame by Pon. Thiyagam, the officer in charge of Martyrs Resting Homes, attended by several key commanders, public figures and large number of local residents.

The two bothers of Col. Ramanan, LTTE cadres, garlanded Late. Ramanan's photograph while Senior Commander Col. Balraj, Deputy political head S. Thangan and Thamilini Head of the Women political wing, garlanded the photograph.

Thamilini, addressing the audience said, "We have, in the struggle for freedom, lost able combatants and talented commanders at its various stages. Col. Ramanan's demise comes as a shock to all of us. His death has brought us unbearable pain and grief, she said.

"It is an unenviable position for a warrior to carry out his tasks in the period driven by dangerous agenda of the Sri Lanka Government hidden behind a ficticious peace process. Col. Ramanan, though facing a cunning and calculated shadow war unleashed on Tamil Eelam by the Sinhala Lanka, built up our strength and forces in Southern Tamil Eelam through his extraordinary skill as military leader and the rapport he enjoyed with the people of the region and our combatants.

"Each tragic loss in our struggle for liberation leaves us injected with fresh vigour and determination. Col. Ramanan is not dead. He is here with us in the numerous combatants in whom he had instilled all his talents and tactics. They will surely win us the beautiful Southern Tamil Eelam." said Thamilini.

Col. Ramesh, paying tribute to Late. Col. Ramanan said, "Ramanan stood steadfast by our leader when Karuna turned traitor. With the skill of an efficient surgeon he successfully removed the poisonous elements in Southern Front. Though he has been taken from us unexpectedly, the plans he drew for the complete liberation of Southern Tamil Eelam and the many cadres he trained for the mission are with us. We will fulfill his dreams when we redeem the entire Tamil Eelam soon."