Karuna urged international community not to support the LTTE

Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan, widely known as Karuna, told BBC Sandeshaya that there is no doubt that the LTTE's tactics will be reduced to guerrilla warfare as they are gradually losing ground in the north.

However, their resistance will not drag the conflict for more than another six months, he said.

Mr. Muralitharan, widely regarded as the LTTE's most senior military leader after Velupillai Prabhakaran, defected from the rebel outfit in 2004.

Velupillai Prabhakaran

His defection is considered to be a crucial factor in the government force's success for in the eastern province, a fact admitted by Mr. Muralitharan himself.

	Karuna says LTTE leader is still in Sri Lanka

The LTTE leader, Vinayagamurthy Muralitharan said, is still in Sri Lanka.

The former LTTE leader predicted that Sri Lanka’s civil war would end if the Tamil Tiger leader flees Sri Lanka.

He was recently appointed as an MP by President Mahinda Rajapaksa's ruling coalition.

Attending an official ceremony to declare open government projects in Ampara district , Karuna, MP, said he condemned LTTE keeping the civilians in the north as a human shield.

He also appealed to the international community to not to support the LTTE.