Chennai: In a startling revelation, Tamil Nationalist Movement (TNM) Leader P.Nedumaran on Monday announced that outlawed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Leader Velupillai Prabhakaran was alive and will appear in public at an appropriate time.

Talking to reporters in Thanjavur, Founder of Ulaka Tamilar Peramaippu (World Tamil Confederation) and President of Tamil Nationalist Movement P.Nedumaran said Prabhakaran was hale and hearty that his family has been in touch with him.

Nedumaran, however, said he could not at present disclose the location where Prabhakaran was staying.

Nedumaran said he was making this announcement with the consent of the family members of Prabhakaran.

He said the present situation in Sri Lanka, which has been witnessing protests, has made the situation conducive for Prabhakaran to make his public appearance.

Nedumaran, a staunch supporter of LTTE, said Prabhakaran would appear in public at the right time and reveal his detailed plans on creating a Tamil Eelam.

He said the LTTE Leader, who was 'pronounced' dead during the final stages of the ethnic war by the Sri Lankan military in May 2009 in which innocent Sri Lankan Tamils, fighting for a separate Tamil Eelam, were killed, which pro-Eelam parties in Tamil Nadu termed it as an act of genocide and wanted the then Sri Lankan President

Mahinda Rajapakse to face trial in the International Court of Justice for war crimes.

Reacting to Nedumaran's assertion, Former Sri Lanka MP Sivajilingam said the body that was identified has not yet been proved that it was that of Prabhakaran by the Sri Lankan government, strengthening the claim that he was not killed during the final phase of the war and that he was staying alive in an undisclosed location.

Stating that Nedumaran's claim that Prabhakaran was alive was his personal opinion and that it could not be ignored, Sivajilingam said if it was true Tamils across the world will be more happy.

"A situation has arisen wherein a Tamil Eelam can be created without a war," he said.

Tamizhaga Vazhvurimai Katchi (TVK) Founder T.Velmurugan, MLA, termed as 'happy' and 'sweet' news that Mr Prabhakaran was alive.

(With UNI inputs)