Clad in a white cotton shirt he wears a pair of simple slippers. The soft-spoken man explains the downfall of the 'outfit', that was once thought as being impossible to destroy. After 30-years of a struggle to divide a united country to win their rights, the 'man' says every youth, including him, was misled by politicians of a by-gone era.Calling himself a victim, he says, youth who had different dreams in life got 'trapped' in Eelam and destroyed their future.

"When I passed the Advanced Level examination, I dreamt of becoming a Police Inspector. When I got into the university, my dream was to become a Government Agent. I had all these dreams because I love my motherland and I wanted to serve my people. But the then political environment which poisoned youth like us shattered my dreams and it made us to dream of another country for the Tamils. I joined another youth, Vellupillai Prabhakaran to achieve our dream - Eelam.

We worked hard but we failed. Now it's time to agree with the truth and act accordingly", the man who smuggled arms for over two decades to make the 'outfit' which turned out to be one of the world's most ruthless terrorist organisations, said.

Shanmugam Kumaran Tharmalingam known as KP, tagged as one of the wanted men in the world for his involvement in arms procurement has drawn a new plan to achieve his childhood dream - serving people- while living under protective hands in Colombo, where he was brought from Malaysia in a dramatic 'arrest'.

The terror outfit is proscribed as a terrorist organisation in 32 countries, identified as the new leader of the LTTE after the demise of Prahakaran at the Nanthikadal lagoon in May 2009, KP says he is in fear when he see the people of the Wanni who were virtually dragged into the 'stone age' by the LTTE.

He has travelled to over 50 countries to coordinate the terror outfit's arms procurement network, he sheds copious tears as to what crime children committed to suffer the way they did.

"Most of them have never seen a chocolate in their lives", the fair-skinned man with sharp eyes became so emotional and couldn't control his tears.

"Do you now feel that you are partly responsible for this heinous crime?, I asked.

With tears rolling down he says, 'yes' "Thousands of people died, became disabled and sacrificed their future. Thousands of children became orphans. I am very sad when I see them as I am also responsible for what they suffering today. When I was in Malaysia, I saw how people were running for their lives, I cried a lot", KP, who is into Buddhist meditation, said.

KP, who now calls himself a person who has 'purified' his 'poisoned' mind says: "Be a Sri Lankan rather than calling yourself a Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim.

We belong to a united country and let's get together to bring a new peaceful era". Time to time he goes through a small note book, in which he had jotted down the important points which he wants to highlight.

Many know who KP is and his involvement in turning the LTTE into a ruthless terrorist outfit. But only a few know what exactly KP aspires now in his mid 50s and what the Tamils, whom he thought need a separate country, want today.

A father of a teenage girl and married to a Thai woman, he was introduced to Buddhism by his wife, who he says is now the happiest person as he is on the correct path. KP says he will sacrifice his life to fulfill his new dream - to see the children of the Wanni live happily and well.

Here is an exclusive discussion with him to feel his pulse at a time when the LTTE has been decimated.

Q: Though you seem to be a changed man, a section of the Tamil diaspora is still propagating separatism. How do you feel about them?

A: The Tamil diaspora can be divided into three segments - first, second and third generation diaspora. In the 1980s, the first generation diaspora brought the proposal of Eelam but Appapillai Amirthalingam (He was assassinated by the Tamil Tigers, later), the former Leader of the Opposition, rejected it saying it was not the right way to win the rights of the Tamils.

He said as the leader of the Tamil people he has to lead them in the correct path. He said he could not dance to the tune of those living abroad as they just demand a separate state.

Again the idea of Eelam was propped up by the Tamil diaspora when the LTTE was there and they were misled.

Now there is no concept called Eelam. Everyone has dreams. ( He laughs) but how many can realise their dreams. They remain as dreams. As human beings we have to accept our failures and with experience we have to adjust to the present. It is a good lesson and now in this united Sri Lanka we have to think anew.

I have adjusted my dream and now I am living in a new dream to give a better future to the younger generation of this country. I dreamt of serving my people as an Inspector in the police.

Now I dream again to serve my motherland and to set an example to the world as a country full of peace and development.

It is true, that we fought against each other at one time, but now it is time to show that we are working together to develop the country. Otherwise what are we going to offer to the future generation. I have visited over 50 countries and our country is way behind.

When I go to the Wanni I cry, questioning myself as to what mistake these people have done to be born in this land to suffer. What is the future for them. Half of the responsibility of giving these children and youth a good education, health and other facilities for them to boom, lies in the hands of politicians. They can't be misled this time around.

The Tamil diaspora belongs to the other half which is responsible to create a peaceful environment for them and they should not neglect them.

Q: You have travelled around the country and seen the situation in the North. Though you said the Tamil diaspora has a greater responsibility in the post-conflict era, their contribution is still not significant maybe due to lapses in conveying the true picture. How do you think you can get involved in this?

A: We have already arranged several trips to the North where the third generation Tamil Diaspora children were taken to see life there.

These children are living in the West but they are unaware of ground realities. They know they belong to Sri Lanka but have been brainwashed by pro-LTTE segments. These children were born and bred in different cultures and never visited Sri Lanka for a long time. The LTTE formed the Tamil Youth Organization (TYO) and brain-washed most of these youth. Now what we try to do is to bring them here to allow them to see the reality.

A daughter of a friend of mine came here and she cried when she saw the children in the North who have suffered immensely. She left the country with the determination that she wanted to help these innocent children.

A few weeks ago we took some diaspora families and they were also in tears when they saw the children yearning for love.

When these children referred to them as amma ( mother) and akka (sister) they cried.

More than 30,000 to 40,000 diaspora members will visit the North. They will then see the reality. Misinformation and the LTTE has poisoned them.

Q: Why didn't you have this same feeling before you were 'brought' to Sri Lanka?

A: People doubt me when I talk negatively about the LTTE now. But I am telling the truth. Some years ago I felt that the LTTE was not genuine. Three years ago when I was in Malaysia, I had spoken against poisoning the youth with separatism ideas. I told them that I was worried about how some Tamil groups were using their children abroad to achieve their own benefits.

Q: If you divide the Tamil diaspora, how many still support the LTTE cause?

A: Yes, the pro-LTTE Tamil Diaspora, are only 10 percent. They hang on to Eelam and paint a different picture for their own benefit. They are aware that the LTTE and Prabakaran are no more. They also know that they can't promote the Tamil Eelam concept as it is dead now, but revive Eelam issue. This is a survival game. They have money, media, political power and help in the West.

This ten percent is active, another 50 percent listen to their propaganda and the rest are groping in the dark as they don't have information about ground realities in the North.

Q: What is your role in this process where we need to enlighten them about reality?

A: As I have explained before we have organised several trips for the Tamil diaspora to witness the reality.

We have websites and newspapers in the West like the UK and Canada to publish success stories. Some are convinced and have conveyed their willingness to support us. About four to five diaspora persons contact me and visit monthly to join in our endeavour. They want to take part in the process. Only with their support we can run the projects well. The logistic support is provided by the Ministry of Defence.

Q: Don't you think the support from the Tamil diaspora is insufficient?

A: Yes. But during this three-year period we have done a lot to convince them. We have a dream and need a mega project for the welfare of the war-affected people. Though support is insufficient we have to commence work at some point. We have over 80,000 war affected widows, unemployed youth, poor education facilities and areas that need to be developed. The support coming to us is slow, but we are trying to tap them.

The organisation - North-East Rehabilitation and Development Organisation (NERDO), set up to look after the welfare of the people in the North and the East is just one-year-old. At the beginning many criticised us, but now they have understood our mission.

We are involved in several projects to help children, widows, displaced people, students, disabled, ex-LTTE cadres and all other people.

Our projects include building orphanages, vocational training centres, model farms, and many other projects. We invite well-wishers to help in these projects.

NERDO also provides counselling to people affected psychologically. The goal is to rehabilitate them to have a productive and harmonious life.

I think education is a paramount factor in rebuilding the North and East. We have given maximum concern to uplift education. My dream is to send every child to school and I want to see them come out as educated people.

Q: What is your comment about the development taking place in the North and East, which was given top priority by the government. According to your assessment what more is there to be done?

A: I appreciate the Government for developing the North and the East within these three-years. We have to encourage the Government to do more. Post conflict development is not easy and it takes time to regain. It also needs hard work and need the support of all segments.

Earlier it took three hours to reach Mullaitivu from Mankulam, but I am happy to say that today it takes only one and a half hours. There was no electricity, water and other infrastructure facilities last year, but today people are happy as they are in the door step to development. It is vital to have people-oriented programs to uplift their living standards.

I suggest to open special economic zones similar to China, where they give priority to industries unique to each area. I personally feel this is one of the best options to reduce unemployment in the North and the East.

The Government needs to have plans to stop Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters. In Mullaitivu and Jaffna, fishermen have become unemployed as Indian fishermen intrude the waters. The sophisticated Indian trawlers over-harvest and it is a big problem now.

Unity among all communities is paramount for development.

Q: You said you are a changed man now. How do you define this change?

A: When I say I am a changed man, it comes from my heart. For the first time in my life I got a chance to meet Sinhala friends. I never had a chance to live with them.

When I was a student I came to the South, but at that time I had a negative picture about the Sinhalese.

When I heard that I was to be handed over to Defence Secretary, Gotabaya Rajapaksa I thought he would end my life. But as soon as I met him I felt the warmth, friendliness and felt free and safe now that I am at home. When I was handed overs to a team to 'protect' me I had sleepless nights thinking that they would kill me at any given time.

But within a few days I began to call them 'Thambi' and they called me 'Anna'. It was sincere and came from the bottom of the hearts of both parties. They treated me like their older brother or like father. When I was sick they looked after me well.

This new encounter changed me for life. When I met wounded soldiers, ex-cadres and the Vanni people I felt so sorry and I blamed everyone who made us fight and made these innocent people suffer.

At the beginning I thought I was under house arrest and there was nothing that I could do to heal these souls. But I was determined that I should do some thing as I still love my country, its people and its beauty.

I gave this idea to the Defence Secretary that I wanted to start some humanitarian projects. He simply said 'go ahead'. Then I thought to myself that if the Government was suspicious of me and hated me they would say 'No', and all this caused a huge change in me.

I was ready to die for my motherland and now there is no change in this stance. No one influenced me to change and the process in which I am undergoing now helps me to 'purify' my thinking.

Q: The Indian Government has cautioned that LTTEers were trying to re-group. Can they make a comeback?

A: (Laughing) Eelam and the LTTE is over. It is a difficult task for them to re-group. Nature will not permit anyone to divide this country. Different kings ruled this country, but it remained as one for centuries.

If somebody tries to divide Sri Lanka, nature will punish them and they will be destroyed. Hardcore LTTEers and their sympathisers in the Tamil diaspora still boast of a comeback, they are surviving because of these slogans, issues and incidents. Tamils in this country can't be fooled any more as they know the LTTE is a defunct outfit now. What the Tamils want now is peace, happiness and the money to live in a united country.

Q: According to intelligence findings the recent drama in the Vavuniya prison found links with the West to destabilise peace.

A: These are small incidents created by some interested parties for their own survival. This doesn't mean that the LTTE can ever make a comeback. I am sad as they are still taking the lives of these innocent boys to task. They are not well educated and can be easily misled.

When someone goes through a legal process, they need to have patience. The Government is working on their release and even I tried to get them released but there are some obstacles. It takes time.

When I was under high security, I felt I needed freedom and wanted to go out soon. But again I questioned myself as to why I needed to rush. Later I realised I needed patience to overcome this.

Q: People think that you are one of the richest men as you had access to all the LTTE funds. Are you really?

A: (Laughs) Do you think I am a wealthy man? No. I am a simple man. These are all rumours. From 2002 I didn't have links with the LTTE until 2009 January. Everything was with the others and also with the inner circle who handled LTTE funds and assets. They knew where LTTE funds were. I never did mistakes and the LTTE hierarchy knew it well. I lived according to my principles and I did the tasks entrusted to me honestly. That was why the LTTE called me back, but it was too late!

-(Sunday Observer)-

Two navy personnel had fallen off a small Sri Lanka Navy vessel which was involved in an accident during the Victory day Parade at the Galle Face Green this morning. The boat had capsized during the parade causing both sailors to fall overboard. One of them has been rescued while the other sailor is reported missing at sea. Approximately 170 officers and 2700 sailors of the Sri Lanka Navy had taken part in the Humanitarian Victory Day Parade 2013, which marks the fourth anniversary of ending of terrorism. The Naval Contingent comprised of Naval Forces from the Western Naval Command, the Southern Naval Command, the Wanni Naval Command, the Eastern Naval Command and the Northern Naval Command.

Mrs Ananthi Sasitharan, who personally witnessed Sri Lanka military taking away her husband, Mr Elilan, a political leader of the LTTE, at the end the Vanni War in May 2009, speaks out her experience from a civilian point of view and as a mother caring for her children during the war and the genocidal onslaught. Still living in Vanni, at Ki'linochchi, the 46-year-old mother of three is also running an organization that seeks to establish what had happened to their beloved ones. The SL State is still refusing to reveal the fate of those who were filtered away from the civilians and taken into buses to undisclosed detention camps. The narration of the survivor of the genocidal massacre, told with courage from Ki'linochchi, brings out the spirit and courage of a people who stood with their liberation fighters until the last moment. TamilNet brings out a 40-minute recount by Mrs Sasitharan.

A group of persons including two leaders of the Tamil National People's Front (TNPF) have been arrested by Mannar Police today over a commemoration ceremony. The General Secretary of the TNPF, S. Gajendran and National Organizer, S. Manivannan are said to be among the group of around 15 party members arrested. They were arrested regarding a ceremony organized today to commemorate the deaths of Tamils during the war in Sri Lanka, TNPF leader and former MP Gajendrakumar Ponnambalam told Ada Derana. He stated that the arrests were made at around 4.00pm today (18) and that they are currently in Mannar Police custody.

Impeached Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayke who appeared before the Bribery Commission issued a lengthy statement denying the charges levelled against her. Sources close to Dr. Bandaranayake said she gave a detailed explanation on how she obtained each and every asset she possessed. She spoke for some three and a half hours giving details of her bank accounts and how she came to own her other properties. She emphasised that she had accumulated her assets in a legitimate way. Dr. Bandaranayake was asked to appear before the commission once again at 9.00 a.m. on Monday. The charges include the non-declaration of assets and liabilities annually and about some 20 bank accounts she held in various banks including nine accounts in the National Development Bank (NDB).

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressing the Victory Day at the colourful ceremony held at Galle Face Green reiterated that the cruel terrorist war was ended four years ago and there will be no more wars and blood bath in the country. He said the country had been united as one nation and the people were free from terror and fear. The President recalled that the entire world warned not to engage the ruthless LTTE but to offer what the terrorists wanted. 'Our brave armed forces displayed that a ruthless terrorist outfit like the LTTE could be defeated though the world had second thoughts',the President said.

UNP MP Ravi Karunanayaka says that the former media spokesperson of the LTTE Daya master had asked to compete from the UNP to the NPC polls but the party did not allow it. He further stated that for the UPFA which considers previous terrorist activities as a qualification for the politics has accepted Daya Master to their list. MP Karunanayaka made this remark at a media briefing held yesterday (17) at the National plantation workers union hall at Rajagiriya. HE said that not only Daya Master, Tamilini, even the former friend of the LTTE leader Prabhakaran Gunasundaram Jayasundaram too will contest to the NPC from UPFA.

President of the National Trade Union Centre (NTUC), K.D. Lal Kantha, alleged the electricity bill of Minister of Mass Media and Information, Keheliya Rambukwella, was Rs 121,114 for the month of March. "This is the bill for his private home. These private bills are paid by his ministry to the CEB. Why can't the President and the Cabinet, as a start, enact a law, to prevent the use of the public money to pay the bills of the ministers?" he questioned. The people of the country must fight to totally abolish the electricity tariff hike in the coming days, without limiting themselves to the reversal of the new electricity tariff plan. He expressed these views addressing the media in Colombo, at a convention organized by the Coordination Committee for the National Trade Union Alliance (NTUA), in response to the remarks made by President of the Federation of University Teachers' Associations (FUTA), Dr. Nirmal Ranjith Devasiri, regarding the essential role played by electricity in the daily lives of the masses.

Sri Lanka this morning staged an extravagant military parade at the Galle Face Green in Colombo to celebrate the fourth anniversary of the monumental victory over the terrorist war waged by the Tamil Tiger rebels for three decades. Sri Lankan President as Commander in Chief was the Chief Guest at the occasion where over 13,000 Security Forces personnel of the Three Armed Forces, the Special Task Force (STF) and the Civil Defense Force took part in a grand parade. Also, took part in the parade were 50 naval craft in the sea off the Galle Face and 30 air craft including fighter craft from the sky. The commemoration ceremony was inaugurated with a 21-gun salute by the Artillery unit of Sri Lanka Army. The National War Hero Ceremony will be conducted in front of the statue of the Gallant Soldier at Sri Jayewardenepura, Kotte at 4 pm today and the President will lay a wreath to pay tribute to the over 20,000 soldiers who perished in the three-decade long battle.

Any organisation or individual will not be allowed to venerate a terrorist organisation. Anyone participating in a commemoration ceremony for LTTE cadres will be arrested, Vanni Commander Major General Boniface Perera said. 'There is only one military in a country. Any citizen has the right to commemorate their loved ones but no one can commemorate terrorists who were disloyal to the government. If persons are planning to remember LTTE members it is treason. We will arrest whoever is involved in this,' Major General Perera said. He was responding to a query about reports in some newspapers including the Udayan published in the North, that relatives of those who died during the last phase of the war in Vellamullivaikkal and Pudumathalan were planning to organise a commemoration day in Vavuniya today when the government was celebrating Victory Day.

The Tamil Eelam freedom charter will be promulgated on the 18th May 2013 at an International Conference under the auspices of TGTE in Lancaster Pennyslavania - U.S.A. TGTE under the dynamic leadership of Mr.V.Rudrakumaran Prime Minister, was born out of dire necessity and not by compulsion. The justification for an independent state of Tamil Eelam in the traditional homelands of Tamils in the north and east is accepted and endorsed by Tamil Diaspora supported by numerous International scholars and eminent persons.

The British Tamil Forum's (BTF) call for a mass rally in London on Saturday, remembering the 2009 Mu'l'li-vaaykkaal genocidal massacre, focuses on urging Britain and the Commonwealth to boycott the Sri Lanka CHOGM meet in November. Earlier this month, the British Prime Minister David Cameron has announced his decision to attend the meet. 'It is ridiculous as well as painful to find that Cameron has decided to attend CHOGM in Sri Lanka,' said a BTF statement on Thursday, adding that the meet, leading to Sri Lanka chairing the Commonwealth for the next two years, 'will not only be disgraceful to the Commonwealth and Britain, but will also create a permanent blot in their history.'

43rd Chief justice in Sri Lanka Dr. Shirani Bandaranayake reappeared before the Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption today as notified. The Commission had recently notified Dr. Bandaranayake to submit verbal answers with regards to allegations of having maintained irregular assets. Appearing with her attorneys Dr. Bandaranayake had made her verbal submission before the Commission. Subsequently the Commission had notified Dr. Bandaranayake to reappear before it on the 20th of this month.

Sri Lanka's main opposition United National Party (UNP) will seek the opinions and views of the public on the draft constitution being prepared by the party. UNP parliamentarian Wijedasa Rajapakse said the draft constitution would be made public on the 29th of this month. He said the UNP would also have a discussion with party leaders in the parliament regarding the draft. He explained that the UNP's draft constitution would limit the powers of the executive presidency and the president will also be liable and responsible when making decisions. The draft constitution also proposes that a person would have to end his\her political career and be independent once elected as the president and would not be able to hold any Cabinet portfolios.

Saudia Arabia has long been a beacon of hope for many Sri Lankans who flock there to pursue a higher salary and a better life than they would otherwise get at home. About 1.8 million Sri Lankans live and work abroad, and about 90 percent of them do so in the Middle East - accounting for foreign exchange income of US$5.2 billion last year. For many economic migrants, though, the promise of a brighter future does not materialize. Mary Margaret, 32, spent six years in the Middle East as a housemaid, dreaming of earning enough money to build a home for her three children. 'I chose to go abroad as a housemaid because we had no other way of earning money. I laid a foundation for a new house six years before but could do nothing thereafter,' she said.

Minister Wasudewa Nanayakkara has stated that if the government intends to hold an independent and fair election all military personnel in North must be limited to their respective camps. In an interview to ' Ravaya' newspaper he has stated that if the security forces are deployed all over the Northern Province the government will not be able to declare an independent and fair election to the international. Responding to the Minister's statement Defence Secretary Gotabhaya Rajapaksa has told ' Ravaya' that the military personal will not be evicted if it affects the security of the Northern Province. The security forces will only be involved in development process, he said.

Concerned over reports of Sri Lankan government considering removal of land and police powers from the provinces prior to the elections in the Northern Province, India today asked it not to take any step against their own commitments relating to the 13th Amendment. India's External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid telephoned his Sri Lankan counterpart G L Peiris and also raised the issue of 26 Indian fishermen who are in detention in his country while seeking their early release. According to official sources, the conversation also focused on the elections that are to be held in the Northern Province with Khurshid expressing his concerns regarding media reports referring to some consideration being given to removal of land and police powers from the provinces prior to the polls.

The main opposition UNP yesterday said it had rejected a request made by Velayutham Dayanithi alias Daya Master and his supporters to contest the Northern Provincial Council on the UNP ticket. UNP Colombo District MP Ravi Karunanayake told a news conference that the group met the UNP leaders during their recent visit to the North. The UNP MP made this point referring to a statement by Daya Master that former LTTE cadres should be allowed to contest elections. He said the party informed them that the UNP had decided to keep away from LTTE associates as various allegations had been levelled against the party linking it with Tamil Terrorists.

A woman attempted to commit suicide by jumping into a well with her 3 children in Vavuniya this morning. Neighbors had managed to rescue the mother, however the three children had already perished by then, police said. The woman's three daughters -aged 1, 3 and 4, had drowned inside the well. The mother of three, a resident of Thandikulam in Vavuniya, has been arrested while Vavuniya Police is conducting further investigations.

A stock of explosives was recovered inside an abandoned house at Palaminmadu, Batticaloa. The explosives included 29 Agasthi hand grenades,16 type 82/2 hand grenades and 11 Anti personal mines. Batticaloa Police is conducting further investigation into the incident.

The controversial Buddhist organization in Sri Lanka, the Bodu Bala Sena (BBS) has called for a non-commercial Vesak celebration in the country. The organization has called on the government to ensure that Vesak celebrations are not commercialized. General Secretary of the BBS, Ven. Galagodaththe Gnanasara Thero has cited an example of the commercialization of Vesak by saying that it has become the norm for the conducting of "dansal" as a mean of extorting money from the public for personal use by the organizers of such events. The Thero promised that the BBS would make drastic changes in the way the country celebrates Vesak from next year.