ABSTRACT
Tamil youth involved in the militant movements were labelled the "boys" because they rebelled against some of the established norms of traditional Sri Lankan Tamil society, including the adoption of violent methods to achieve their political aims. Of all the militant groups, the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front (EPRLF) is probably the most radical and militant in respect to ideology. The EPRLF is somewhat of a latecomer among the militant groups because it only made itself known to the public in 1983, when it conducted its first congress. Eros was, in the words of 'Frontline,' the 'Dark Horse' among the militant groups. All the militant groups, even the EPRLF which dominated the provincial Council, rejected the holding of a referendum to decide the merger issue. Veluppillai Prabakaran of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is undoubtedly the most colorful leading figure of the all the groups.
