LTTE chief gets honorary karate black belt

Tamil guerrilla chief Velupillai Prabhakaran has been honoured with a karate black belt for his service in promoting the form of martial arts in the Tamil guerrilla controlled areas in the north and eastern parts of Sri Lanka.

Prabhakaran was on Thursday conferred the 'national honour' by a well known black-belt Karate champion Bonnie Roberts, 74, who holds eight black belts and contributed yeoman service to the growth of the art of Karate.

The 'national award' given away at a function in Kilinochchi includes a medal embossed with the Tiger emblem.


Roberts has the distinction of being the first Tamil to participate in international Karate competitions and was also responsible for introducing Karate in the northern Jaffna peninsula. He is the only representative of the International Shotokan Karate Association in Ilankai (Sri Lanka) approved by Japan.

Roberts commended the Tamil guerrilla leader for promoting the growth of the art of Karate and honoured him by presenting a black belt, purported to be the sixth belt.

The Tamil guerrilla chief's capability in karate is not known publicly, but the pro-guerrilla website carried a photograph of him sporting a white karate outfit complete with a black belt and posing next to Roberts. At the ceremony most of the senior Tamil guerillas were present they included political wing leader S.P. Thamilchelvan and Special Sea Tiger commander 'Col.' Soosai.