Dead Body of Velupillai Prabhakaran

Sri Lankan troops recovered the body of slain rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran on Tuesday, a day after he was killed in the Tamil Tigers’ last stand against government forces in the north, the military said.

The government had announced Prabhakaran’s killing on Monday, but later said they had not yet found his body. A rebel official abroad denied Prabhakaran was killed and said he was in a safe place.

As speculation grew about Prabhakaran’s fate, army chief Gen. Sarath Fonseka announced that his body had been recovered.

“A few hours ago, the body of terrorist leader Prabhakaran, who ruined this country, was found in the battleground,” he told state television. “I take responsibility for this statement.”