Head of International Secretariat of the Intelligence wing of the LTTE, Mr. Arivazhakan, who contacted TamilNet Friday categorically denied the reports that the LTTE leader Mr. Velupillai Pirapaharan has been killed. Mr. Arivazhakan urged the global Tamil community not to trust the "engineered rumours," being spread by the Government of Sri Lanka and its military establishment.

"Our beloved leader is alive," he said and added that the LTTE leadership will make contact with its people at a suitable time in future.

"These rumours have been set afloat to confuse the global Tamil community which has been voicing support for the liberation of Tamil Eelam," he further said.

Mr. Arivazhakan, who verified his identity through a senior reporter in Sri Lanka, did not reveal his location due to security reasons.