According to Sri Lanka’s government the death of S. P. Thamilchelvan, chief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in an air raid on Friday won’t disturb the process of peace.

Thamilchelvan, 40, the public face of the LTTE, was killed on Friday in an air strike conducted by Sri Lankan authorities.

Keheliya Rambukwella, the government’s defense spokesman, said that Thamilchelvan presented a “false face of peace”, according to media sources.

The head of the rebels’ intelligence unit, Pottu Aman said yesterday at his funeral in Kilinochchi region in Sri Lanka that the LTTE’s reaction will be a “relentless effort” in order to establish an independent Tamil state.

His death was a blow to the LTTE. The rebels lost control of the eastern region in Sri Lanka in July and the vessel that was smuggling weapons was destroyed a month ago, according to the Ministry of Defense.

The conflict generated 70,000 deaths in 24 years. Due to attempts of peace at Geneva last year the fighting intensified.

The rebels wish a peace agreement on a separate homeland. According to the 2001 census Tamils make up 11.9 % of the population and Sinhalese 74 % of the 20 million people of Sri Lanka.

The government refused the idea of dividing the country and offered the transfer of powers to some provinces. LTTE still hold control of some areas in the north.

Regarding the death of Thamilchelvan, the leader of the LTTE, Velupillai Prabhakaran said in a statement that the “peace dove” was killed.

Two days ago Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickramanayake said that more attacks on LTTE are being prepared by the military.

“Our security forces are targeting the hiding places and safe houses. They will not stop the relentless pursuit of terrorists.”