A local government body in northern Sri Lanka has unanimously approved a proposal to fully renovate the former home of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the late leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in the Valvettithurai area of Jaffna and to hand it over to his sister. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Valvettithurai Pradeshiya Sabha held on the 2nd, marking a rare and symbolically charged move linked to one of the most controversial figures in the country’s recent history.
The proposal was submitted by M.K. Sivajilingam, a member of the Valvettithurai Pradeshiya Sabha and Prabhakaran’s brother-in-law. Addressing the council, Sivajilingam argued that the renovation should be viewed in the same way as the preservation of the homes of historical and political leaders in other parts of the world, describing it as an effort to safeguard a structure that has long been identified locally as Prabhakaran’s house.
According to statements made during the council session, Sivajilingam said the renovation was necessary to ensure the safety and long-term survival of the building. He proposed that, once restored, the house should be formally handed over to Prabhakaran’s sister, a move he described as appropriate and practical. Members of the council expressed agreement with this reasoning, leading to the proposal being passed without opposition.
Sivajilingam is known in the area for his close association with the site and has previously drawn attention for commemorating Prabhakaran’s birthday each year by cutting a cake in front of the house. The unanimous approval of the proposal by the Valvettithurai Pradeshiya Sabha underscores the sensitivity and complexity surrounding memory, heritage, and local sentiment in Sri Lanka’s post-war north, even as the decision is likely to attract wider national scrutiny and debate.
