SRI LANKA: SENIOR LTTE COMMANDER BALRAJ DIES OF

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000495 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PHUM MASS MOPS PTER CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: SENIOR LTTE COMMANDER BALRAJ DIES OF HEART ATTACK ¶1. (U) The LTTE announced on Tuesday that Balasegaram Kandiah, alias Balraj, a senior commander in the LTTE, died from a heart attack on May 20 in the Tiger-held Vanni. The 43 year old Balraj was one of an estimated 6 senior leaders directly below LTTE Chief Prabakharan. Balraj's duties included commanding the front in Manalaaru at the Mullaitivu-Trincomalee border and in Mannar. He was also responsible for training Tiger cadres. Balraj was the first commander of the LTTE's conventional armed forces unit known as the Charles Antony Brigade which he led from 1991-1993 and then again from 1995 to 1997. He served as a key commander in several of the LTTE's major operations including the LTTE attack on the SLA garrison in Elephant Pass in 2000. All press reports indicate his death was from a heart attack and not the result of military action. In 2003, during the now-abrogated Ceasefire Agreement, Balraj was medevaced through Colombo to Singapore for heart surgery. In February 2008 he was hospitalized for two weeks. ¶2. (SBU) COMMENT: The Sinhalese press has characterized Balraj's death as a "major blow" to the Tigers. Some speculate that with GSL forces pressing the Tigers on four fronts the loss of Balraj means the LTTE's remaining senior leadership will be have to take on additional duties while a replacement is selected. However, SRI Lankan military analysts tell us that Balraj's heart condition had precluded him from taking on active-duty command responsibilities in recent years. Balraj may have played a more significant role as a military strategist and advisor to LTTE supremo Prabhakaran, but the immediate battlefield significance of his demise has probably been exaggerated by government media for propaganda purposes. BLAKE