Velupillai Prabhakaran, born November 26, 1954), sometimes referred to as Pirabaharan or Thambi,[2] was born in the northern coastal town of Velvettithurai, Sri Lanka to Thiruvenkadam Velupillai and Vallipuram Parvathy.[1] At the age of 21, he founded the organisation now known as the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and is currently its leader.

The LTTE is a militant organization fighting for Tamil self-rule in North-East Sri Lanka, and claims to represent the Tamil people against state-sponsored terrorism in Sri Lanka. The LTTE is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in 32 countries including in the United States, the member nations of the European Union and India.[3][4][5] Prabhakaran also claims to be the head of the state of Tamil Eelam (which is not recognized by any international country) and most of which is under the territorial and administrative control of the Sri Lankan government.[6]

He is currently wanted by Interpol for terrorism, murder, organized crime and terrorism conspiracy.[7] Although during an interview he stated that the LTTE are not yet ready to give up the demand for an independent state, he has suggested that this may be a possibility once the "Tamil homeland, Tamil nationality and Tamil right to self-determination" are politically recognised and accepted.