Lanka formally informs India about Prabhakaran's death

The Sri Lankan government has formally communicated to India the proof and details of the death of Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Eelam supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran, a move expected to help New Delhi to close the investigations into the Rajiv Gandhi assassination case.

Indian law and intelligence agencies had sought proof of the death of Prabhakaran to wind up various inquiry committees probing the death of the former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was killed by an LTTE female suicide bomber on May 21, 1991 at an election rally in Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu.

His assassination was suspected to have been ordered by the Tiger chief Prabhakaran and plotted by his intelligence head Pottu Amman. "Sri Lanka has formally conveyed to India the death of (LTTE leader) Velupillai Prabhakaran," a top official source told PTI.

"We have formally told Indian authorities about Prabhakaran's death," the official said when contacted, adding this was done last month. "As for the death certificate of Prabhakaran sought by India, the matter is lying with the Attorney General's department (of Sri Lanka)," he said. Prabhakaran's body was found near Nandikadal lagoon (in the No Fire Zone) in Wanni in May as thousands of Sri Lankan troops converged on the remnants of once-powerful Tamil Tigers for the last decisive battle, which ended 30 years of civil strife on the island.