Michael Rasa Mary, the mother of Major Sothiya, has passed away in Nelliyady, Jaffna today.
Major Sothiya was the commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE) first female unit. Maria Vasanthi Michael, known by her nomme de guerre ‘Sothiya’, was born on 20 September 1963. She first joined the LTTE in 1984.
A formidable fighter, Sothiya took part in many battles, as female cadres began to take part in combat operations from 1986 onwards. Following Sothiya's death, the LTTE formed the “Sothiya Regiment’ in her honour in 1996.
Read more here: Remembering Major Sothiya.
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