Annamalai Varadaraja Perumal

Life

Varadaraja Perumal was born in Sri Lanka. His father, Annamalai was an Indian Tamil. He graduated from University of Jaffna in economics. After graduation, he worked in the same University as a lecturer. He was a student activist in Tamil United Liberation Front. In 1979, he co-founded Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF). Initially EPRLF was a radical outfit that had the People's Liberation Army as its military wing, and was headed by Douglas Devananda. He was arrested for his association with the outfit but he escaped from jail during 1983 Batticaloa Jailbreak, along with other inmates. In an attempt to end Sri Lankan civil war, the Indo-Sri Lanka Peace Accord was signed. Therefore, Northern and the Eastern provinces merged into the North Eastern Province. EPRLF and some other radical groups entered into mainstream politics and the elections were conducted for the newly created provincial council. EPRLF and its allies won the election with the help of Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF). Perumal became chief minister on 10 December 1988.

As the Chief Minister, Perumal created the Citizen Volunteer Force (CVF) which later known as Tamil National Army to enforce law and order in the province. CVF consisted of ex cadres of PLOTE and TELO, trained by Indian government. Perumal said that the Sri Lankan Army (SLA) would not be needed in the province. On 1 March 1990, when India was ready to withdraw their forces, Perumal passed a resolution in the council to declare independence for Eelam. After his declaration, Sri Lankan government dissolved the provincial council and imposed the direct rule on it. After the failed attempt, Perumal self-exiled to India. Perumal opposed LTTE and its leader V. Prabhakaran. LTTE called him as a traitor and tried to kill him.