Vision Academy EducareVision Academy Educare
Question 39 of 72 · World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies
Questionmedium
This question was previously asked in

SSC

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was founded by:

Answer View answer ▾

Answer: Option B — Velupillai Prabhakaran

Detailed Solution

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was founded by Velupillai Prabhakaran on 5 May 1976.

About the LTTE:

  • It grew out of an earlier group called the "Tamil New Tigers" (TNT), which Prabhakaran had formed in 1972.
  • Its aim was to create an independent Tamil state, "Tamil Eelam", in the north and east of Sri Lanka.

It was a militant separatist organisation. It became known for guerrilla warfare, suicide bombings and the use of child soldiers.

It had its own army, navy ("Sea Tigers") and a small air wing ("Air Tigers"), and at its peak controlled large parts of northern and eastern Sri Lanka.

It was banned as a terrorist organisation by India (1992, after the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi), the USA, the European Union and other countries. India continues to extend the ban under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

About Velupillai Prabhakaran:

  • He was born on 26 November 1954 at Valvettithurai, in the Jaffna peninsula.
  • He led the LTTE for more than 30 years.
  • He was killed by the Sri Lankan army on 18 May 2009, in the final phase of the civil war, near the Nandikadal lagoon in Mullaitivu district.

The Sri Lankan civil war (1983-2009):

It began after anti-Tamil riots in July 1983 ("Black July").

The "Indo-Sri Lanka Accord" was signed in July 1987 by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi and President J. R. Jayewardene. Under it, the "Indian Peace Keeping Force" (IPKF) was sent to Sri Lanka (1987-1990) to disarm the militants. The IPKF fought the LTTE and lost about 1,200 soldiers.

Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by an LTTE suicide bomber at Sriperumbudur, Tamil Nadu, on 21 May 1991.

Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa was also assassinated by the LTTE in 1993.

A Norway-brokered ceasefire was agreed in 2002 but collapsed.

The war ended in May 2009 with the military defeat of the LTTE.

Why not the other options?

  • ✗J. V. Chelvanayakam founded the Federal Party (1949) and was a leader of non-violent Tamil politics; he was called the "Gandhi of Eelam".
  • ✗Anton Balasingham was the LTTE's chief political adviser and negotiator.
  • ✗Appapillai Amirthalingam was a leader of the Tamil United Liberation Front (TULF), assassinated in 1989.

Quick tip

Remember: LTTE = founded 5 May 1976 by Velupillai Prabhakaran (killed 18 May 2009); Indo-Sri Lanka Accord and IPKF = 1987; Rajiv Gandhi assassinated by LTTE = 21 May 1991 (Sriperumbudur); civil war = 1983-2009.

💬 Discussions on this question

Ask a doubt ›

Still stuck on this question? Ask our faculty and fellow students — answers appear here.

Ask a doubt

More World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies Questions

View all ›
  1. Q1.Which country is known as the 'Country of Winds' (or Land of Wind)?
  2. Q2.What is the capital of Bhutan?
  3. Q3.What is the currency of Bangladesh?
  4. Q4.'Dhivehi' is the official language of which country?
  5. Q5.Sheikh Mujibur Rahman is known as the:

More General Knowledge Questions

  1. Q1.The techniques of Rasa and Bhava used in Indian classical dance trace their origin to which ancient text?Indian Dance Forms
  2. Q2.Lavani, Powada, Koli, Waghya Murali and Dhangari Gaja are folk dances of which state?Indian Dance Forms
  3. Q3.The one-act play associated with the Sattriya tradition of Assam is called:Indian Dance Forms
  4. Q4.Which dance form of Goa is known as the 'Warrior Dance'?Indian Dance Forms
  5. Q5.Manipuri dance is based on the Rasleela themes of:Indian Dance Forms

World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies — Preparation

This question tests your understanding of World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies, a key topic in the General Knowledge section. The detailed solution above uses a step-by-step approach to show the reasoning, and where available, a shortcut that helps you solve similar questions in under 90 seconds during the actual exam.

This topic covers world GK: countries with their capitals, currencies and parliaments, national symbols, famous landmarks, the longest, largest and highest features of the world, and international boundary lines such as the Radcliffe, McMahon and Durand Lines. The most common questions match a country with its capital or currency, or a parliament with its name (such as the Knesset of Israel or the Diet of Japan). Revise countries continent by continent, giving extra attention to India's neighbours. Questions on boundary lines usually ask which two countries a line separates. Practise the world GK questions below, written in the style of the general awareness sections of exams such as SSC, banking, railways, CUET GAT, MAH CET and CLAT. Each question comes with a detailed explanation that adds related facts, so every question helps you revise more than one point.

‹ All World GK: Countries, Capitals & Currencies questionsBrowse all topics ›