Black Tigers day celebrated in Vavuniya

[TamilNet, Saturday, 05 July 2003, 09:40 GMT]
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Head of Vavuniya Political Wing, S, Elilan, garlanded and placed flowers to the memorial stone of Lt.Colonel Bork who died in the 1990 attack on Mankulam Sri Lanka Army (SLA) camp, during the Black Tigers day celebrations in Vavuniya, Saturday, Vavuniya residents attending the celebrations said.

Vavuniya district administrator of Heros' cemetaries, Adaikan Selvarajah, similarly flower garlanded memorial stones of Captain Kalaichelvan and Captain Mathumitha during the ceremonies.

Black Tiger day celebrations in started with Elilan hoisting the Tamil Eelam flag at the Eechankulam Heros' Cemetary. Selvarajah lit the ceremonial lamp.


LTTE's Vavuniya Political head Mr.S.Elilan is seen garlanding Black Tiger Lt.Col.Bork's "Nadukal" at the Eachchankulam Maveerar Thuyilum Illam. Lt.Col.Bork (Mapanapillai Arasaratnam of Arumuhathan Puthukulam Vavuniya) was killed on 23.11.1990 when he helped destroy the entrance to strategic Mankulam SLA camp

Vavuniya town was decorated with yellow and red flags; important street corners large picture boards of Black Tigers. Vehicles in the district carried flags with black tigers' insignia.

Businesses in Vavuniya closed at 1 pm as a mark of respect. In schools and in several business premises students and workers paid respect to black tigers memorial photos sprinkling flower petals.

Armored vehicles of SLA patrolled the streets of Vavuniya during Friday night. Masked men were seen pasting leaflets over the Black Tiger day celebration announcements. Black Tiger memorial announcements again appeared in the same positions Saturday morning. Vavuniya residents said that although opposing factions were active no altercations were reported.


A scene of a street in a remote village in Vavniya district on the 5th morning

Black Tigers' identities are closely guarded. Having completed their training, they serve in regular LTTE units, concealing their membership. When called up for a mission, they take routine leave and if they survive, return to regular service again. Membership is only revealed if they are killed in combat.

The Black Tigers constitute a successful military unit which has inflicted disproportionately severe physical and psychological damage on the Sri Lankan military, the latter with the help of the Sri Lankan government's own propaganda. The commandos are some of the LTTE's best fighters and often have several years combat experience.