Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

Sanctioned entity

United States. Named in 17 sanctions listings.

Summary

Sri Lankan military separatist group, which was supposed to receive weapon shipments by North Korea in 2006 and 2007. These shipments were intercepted and seized by Sri Lankan authorities.

(UE) 2025/1578 du 29/07/2025 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001) (FondementJuridique: 3978)

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is a Sri Lankan separatist militant group that was formed in 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran. The LTTE’s primary stated objective is to establish an independent Tamil homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.

(UE) 2023/1505 du 20/07/2023 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001) (FondementJuridique: 3612)

(also ELLALAN FORCE, TAMIL TIGERS, LTTE)

The Director Disqualification Sanction was imposed on 09/04/2025.

(also TAMIL TIGERS, LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM, LTTE)

(UE) 2021/1188 du 19/07/2021 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001) (FondementJuridique: 1150)

(UE) 2025/206 du 30/01/2025 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001) (FondementJuridique: 3871)

(UE) 2026/1878 du 30/07/2026 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001) (FondementJuridique: 4208)

(UE) 2022/1230 du 18/07/2022 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001) (FondementJuridique: 2411)

(UE) 2026/456 du 26/02/2026 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001) (FondementJuridique: 4102)

Name LTTE: Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

(UE) 2023/420 du 24/02/2023 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001) (FondementJuridique: 3532)

Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam

(also TAMIL TIGERS, LTTE, LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM)

(also ELLALAN FORCE, LTTE, LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM)

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is a Tamil separatist militant group that was formed in 1976 by Vellupillai Prabhakaran. The LTTE’s primary stated objective is to establish an independent Tamil homeland in northern and eastern Sri Lanka.

(also TAMIL TIGERS, ELLALAN FORCE, LTTE)

2006/379/CE du 29/05/2006 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001) (FondementJuridique: 500)

Founded in 1976, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) is a Sri Lankan-based terrorist organization that seeks the creation of an independent homeland called "Tamil Eelam" for Sri Lanka's ethnic Tamil minority. Over the years, the LTTE has waged a violent secessionist campaign with the help of ground, air, and naval forces, as well as a dedicated suicide bomber wing. LTTE tactics have included full military operations, terror attacks against civilian centres, and political assassinations, such as the successful assassinations of Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Ghandi and Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premadasa. The LTTE has also had an extensive network of fundraisers, political and propaganda officers, and arms procurers operating in Sri Lanka and within the Tamil diaspora. Although the LTTE was militarily defeated in May 2009, subversion, destabilization, and fundraising continue, particularly in the diaspora. As of June 2022, there have been no known LTTE attacks in Sri Lanka since the group’s military defeat in 2009. However, weakened remnants of LTTE continue to operate in Sri Lanka and in Tamil Nadu, India. In addition, the LTTE has an international fundraising and procurement network that continues to exist.

(also LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM, ELLALAN FORCE, LTTE)

Sanctions and listings17

Canada Counter-Terrorism (Criminal Code) Sanctions Regime
Public Safety CanadaCanadian Listed Terrorist EntitiesCanada
Programme CA-UNSC1373publicsafety.gc.ca laws-lois.justice.gc.ca
Effective
31 Dec 2020
UK sanctions relating to international counter-terrorism - The Counter-Terrorism (International Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
UK; Foreign, Commonwealth & Development OfficeUK FCDO Sanctions ListUnited Kingdom
Director Disqualification Sanction, arms embargo and asset freeze
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are responsible for the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism including suicide attacks and assassinations, in pursuit of their political objective of a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka.
Programme GB-ICTReference 7126Reference CTI0037Last updated 9 Apr 2025gov.uk gov.uk
Australia's Counter-Terrorism (UNSCR 1373) Sanctions Regime - 1373 (2001)
Department of Foreign Affairs and TradeAustralian Sanctions Consolidated ListAustralia
Targeted financial sanction
Instrument of first listing: Charter of the United Nations (Anti-terrorism — Persons and Entities) List 2001 (No. 2) [F2021L00643, Gazette No. S 500, 21 December 2001]. Re-listed on: 16/09/2022, 13/09/2025: Charter of the United Nations (Listed Persons and Entities) Amendment (No. 2) Instrument 2025
Programme AU-UNSC1373Last updated 13 Sep 2025dfat.gov.au dfat.gov.au
Official designation
La Principauté de MonacoMonaco National Fund Freezing ListMonaco
(UE) 2024/329 du 16/01/2024, (ue) 2025/206 du 30/01/2025, (ue) 2023/420 du 24/02/2023, (ue) 2024/2055 du 26/07/2024, (ue) 2022/1230 du 18/07/2022, (ue) 2021/138 du 05/02/2021, (ue) 2023/1505 du 20/07/2023, (ue) 2022/147 du 03/02/2022, (ue) 2021/1188 du 19/07/2021, (ue) 2025/1578 du 29/07/2025, 2006/379/ce du 29/05/2006 and (ue) 2026/1878 du 30/07/2026
Autorité de désignation publiée : Union européenne
geldefonds.gouv.mc
Listed
27 Jul 2012
Reciprocal
OFACUS SAM Procurement ExclusionsUnited StatesActive
Prohibition/Restriction
Redacted for Security Reasons
sam.gov
Lista persoanelor, grupurilor și entităților cărora li se aplică măsurile menționate la articolele 2 și 3 din Poziția comună 2001/931/PESC
Centrul Antiterorist al Serviciului de Informaţii şi Securitate al Republicii MoldovaMoldovan Sanctions for Terrorism and Proliferation of WMDMoldova
antiteror.sis.md
Listed
8 Oct 1997
Counter Terrorism - FTO
Office of Foreign Assets ControlUS OFAC Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) ListUnited States
Block, FTO and SDGT
Secondary sanctions risk: section 1(b) of Executive Order 13224, as amended by Executive Order 13886
Unknown
Programme US-TERRReference 4703treasury.gov ofac.treasury.gov
Listed
12 Nov 2014
Official designation
Ministry of Home Affairs (Kementerian Dalam Negeri)Malaysia MOHA Sanctions ListMalaysia
Reference KDN.K.02-2014moha.gov.my
Official designation
UK Home SecretaryUK Proscribed Terrorist Groups or OrganizationsUnited Kingdom
legislation.gov.uk gov.uk
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 - TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS LISTED IN THE FIRST SCHEDULE OF THE UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) ACT, 1967
Ministry of Home AffairsIndian Ministry of Home Affairs Banned OrganizationsIndia
Programme IN-UAPAReference 21mha.gov.in mha.gov.in
Listed
27 Jul 2012
Reciprocal
OFACUS SAM Procurement ExclusionsUnited StatesActive
Prohibition/Restriction
Redacted for Security Reasons
sam.gov
EU Specific Measures To Combat Terrorism - (UE) 2023/1505 du 20/07/2023 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001); 2006/379/CE du 29/05/2006 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001); (UE) 2026/456 du 26/02/2026 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001); (UE) 2026/1878 du 30/07/2026 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001); (UE) 2021/1188 du 19/07/2021 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001); (UE) 2025/206 du 30/01/2025 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001); (UE) 2022/1230 du 18/07/2022 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001); (UE) 2025/1578 du 29/07/2025 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001); (UE) 2023/420 du 24/02/2023 (UE personnes impliquées dans des actes de terrorisme - R (UE) 2580/2001)
Direction Générale du TrésorFrench National Asset Freezing SystemFrance
Programme EU-TERRReference EU.3679.64gels-avoirs.dgtresor.gouv.fr sanctionsmap.eu
Listed
27 Jul 2012
Reciprocal
OFACUS SAM Procurement ExclusionsUnited StatesActive
Prohibition/Restriction
Redacted for Security Reasons
sam.gov
Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 - UNLAWFUL ASSOCIATIONS UNDER SECTION 3 OF UNLAWFUL ACTIVITIES (PREVENTION) ACT, 1967
Ministry of Home AffairsIndian Ministry of Home Affairs Banned OrganizationsIndia
Programme IN-UAPAReference 7mha.gov.in mha.gov.in
Listed
31 Jan 2025
Effective
1 Feb 2025
EU Specific Measures To Combat Terrorism - TERR
Directorate‑General for Financial Stability, Financial Services and Capital Markets UnionEU Financial Sanctions Files (FSF)European Union
regulationType=amendment; organisationType=council
2025/206 (L 202500206)
Programme EU-TERRReference EU.3679.64eur-lex.europa.eu sanctionsmap.eu
Listed
31 May 2006; 21 Jul 2023; 16 Jul 2008; 14 Jan 2020; 16 Jan 2024; 16 Jun 2009; 29 Jun 2007
EU Specific Measures To Combat Terrorism
Federal Public Service FinanceBelgian Financial SanctionsBelgium
2024/329 (OJ L16012024)
2006/379/EC (OJ L144)
2023/1505 (OJ L184)
2020/19 (OJ L8I)
501/2009 (OJ L151)
2007/445/EC (OJ L169)
2008/583/EC (OJ L188)
Programme EU-TERRfinance.belgium.be sanctionsmap.eu
US Immigration and Nationality Act Section 219
U.S. Department of StateUS Department of State Foreign Terrorist OrganizationsUnited States
Programme US-FTO219state.gov congress.gov congress.gov

Other names52

Also known as48

Tygři osvobození tamilského ÍlamuEllalan ForcesТигри за освобождение на Тамил ИламΤίγρεις για την Απελευθέρωση του Ταμίλ ΙλάμTigre oslobodenia tamilského Ílamuthe Sea Tigersthe Black TigersTygrysy – Wyzwoliciele Tamilskiego Ilamu(LTTE)Tigri per la liberazione della patria Tamilthe Tiger MovementTygrysy Wyzwolenia Tamilskiego IlamuKarum Puligalthe Sangilian ForceDe Tamilske TigreBevrijdingstijgers van Tamil Eelamthe Eellalan ForceTamil Eelamin vapautuksen tiikerit

Show 30 more

ELLALAN FORCEOsvobodilni tigri tamilskega EelamaTamil Eelami Vabadusvõitluse TiigridTigrii Eliberării din Tamil EelamThe Tamil TigersTamilska befrielsetigrarnaTíogair Shaortha Tamil Eelamthe Tiger Organization Security Intelligence ServiceTigres de Libertação do Elam TamilTAMIL TIGERSTamili Eelami VabastustiigridBefreiungstiger von Tamil EelamTamilų Elamo išlaisvinimo tigraiТигри за освобождението на Tamil EelamTamil Tigersthe Ellalan ForceIt-Tigri għal-Liberazzjoni tat-Tamil Eelamthe Air TigersOslobodilački tigrovi tamilskog EelamaTamil Elamo išlaisvinimo tigrai (TEIT)the Women's Combat Force of Liberation TigersTigres de libération de l'Eelam tamoul (TLET)Tigri għal-Liberazzjoni ta' Tamil EelamA Tamil Eelam Felszabadító TigriseiTigres para la Liberación de la Patria TamilLiberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.LIBERATION TIGERS OF TAMIL EELAM„Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam” („Tigrii Eliberării din Tamil Eelam”) – „LTTE”Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)Tigres de libération de l'Eelam tamoul

Weak aliases4

Spellings the source flags as too generic to establish a match on their own.

TOSISTITEWCFLTLTTE

Addresses1

Sri Lanka

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