The funeral of Kanapathipillai Kandaiya, affectionately known as Kappoothu Ayya and father of the LTTE women’s brigade commander Brigadier Vithusha, was held on Monday in Karavetti, Jaffna.
Family members, former LTTE cadres, political representatives, and members of the public gathered in to pay their final respects to Kandaiya, a respected figure remembered for his unwavering support for the Tamil struggle.
Among those in attendance was Illankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK) parliamentarian S. Shritharan, who joined mourners in honouring Kandaiya’s life and his family’s sacrifice.
Kandaiya’s daughter, Brigadier Vithusha, served as the distinguished commander of the LTTE’s Maalathy Regiment — the first all-female combat unit in the movement. She played a pivotal role in every major operation involving the women’s wing and was widely regarded as a symbol of courage and leadership among Tamil women fighters.
Brigadier Vithusha was killed on 4 April 2009 during the Battle of Anandapuram, one of the fiercest confrontations in the final phase of the armed conflict.
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Kandaiya also lost his son, Vithusan, who was killed in combat in 1999 during a battle with Sri Lankan government forces in Vilakkuvaithakulam, Vavuniya District.
Monday’s funeral saw mourners reflect on the profound loss endured by the family, whose sacrifices came to symbolise the broader suffering of the Tamil people during the armed struggle.
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