Source: Ministry of Defence, Public Security, Law & Order - Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Army sources said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader has been seen several times in the Puthukudiyiruppu area's No-fire zone declared by the government for escaping civilians.
The same sources said the LTTE terrorist leader has been seen with his son Charles Anthony Seelan and both of them for most of the time are hiding in an underground bunker.
The army sources quoting Tamil civilians who have escaped the area said both of them have from time to time have come out from the bunkers and explained to the non-cadres of the LTTE the importance of rising up against the government forces who are not very far away from the area of the no-fire zone.
The LTTE cadres are now stationed in the Eastern sector and the No-fire zone of the area.
The escaped civilians had reportedly told the army sources that Prabhakaran and Charles Anthony Seelan come out of the bunker in non-military attire, to mix up easily with the civilians. But they had said they are always surrounded by heavily armed special bodyguards.
Meanwhile the 58th Division of the Sri Lanka army during its operations in Iranapalai area has nabbed the driver of Pottuamman, the intelligence chief and deputy leader of the movement.
He has told his army interrogators that he had escaped from the Tiger leaders and hidden himself in the area when the army had caught him. Army sources said so far he had revealed many confidential pieces of information about the LTTE leaders.
Army sources believe that Prabhakaran will try not to leave the Sri Lankan shores right now as he would rather prefer to create a humanitarian crisis into his favour by harming the civilians and imposing a ceasefire that would benefit him.
Terrorism expert Rohan Gunaratne has said, "Prabhakaran can leave the country. But he will become extremely vulnerable if he leaves Sri Lanka, because he is in the Interpol's Red Notice., and he is wanted by most governments in the world. And Prabhakaran is the proclaimed offender in the Rajiv Gandhi case. So, certainly he will not survive for more than a year. If he leaves Sri Lanka he will be killed."
"Prabhakaran is Asia's master of terror. He has brought untold suffering to the Tamils. Today he is holding more than a 100,000 Tamils as hostage. Prabhakaran has created a humanitarian crisis and a few countries overseas have fallen to this trap. I don't think any country will flirt with Prabhakaran. I think that country's reputation will be tarnished if it gives refuge or if it gives even a day's sanctuary to Prabhakaran. Prabhakaran is a very ruthless leader. No one will risk giving him sanctuary," he has added.
