A child soldier being trained in guerilla warfare at LTTE camp in Northwest Sri Lanka died on Thursday 20th March 2003, of gunshot injuries while training at the camp. The boy was abducted by the LTTE while he was on his way to school several months ago.

After the child's death, the LTTE had invited his parents of the child to attend his funeral held at the LTTE camp having refused to hand over his body to his parents for burial at home.

The LTTE continues to recruit and train child soldiers despite assurances given to the government and the international community. Early this year the LTTE leadership gave another undertaking to the UNICEF Executive Director Carrol Bellamy that they would not recruit child soldiers. The issue was also discussed after the peace talks in Berlin. However, the poor record of the LTTE to adhere to commitments made to the international community is becoming a greater and greater reality this time as well.[The Lanka Academic]