The leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, Thursday
conferred national honor on the father of Karate in Tamil Eelam, Grand Master
Shihan Bonnie Roberts,74, who holds eight black belts and contributed yeoman service
to the growth of the art of Karate.
The national award includes a medal embossed with the Tiger emblem.
At a function held in Kilinochchi Thursday in honor of the grand master, along
with Mr. Pirapaharan, the LTTE's political leader Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan, Special
Sea Tiger commander Col. Soosai, deputy political head Mr. S. Thangan, head
of the sports division Mr. K. Pappa, head of the Tamil Eelam Karate Association
Ratnasothy master, head of the sports coordinating committee Mr. M. Pathmanathan
and Sports coorodinator Mr. Inban participated.
Grand master Bonnie Roberts was born in Kalmunai in the Batticaloa district.
He has the distinction of being the first Tamil to participate in international
Karate competitions. He introduced Karate in Jaffna. He is the only representative
of the International Shotokan Karate Association in Ilankai (Sri Lanka) approved
by Japan.
At the end of the event, Grandmaster Bonnie Roberts commended the LTTE leader
for promoting the growth of the art of Karate and honored him by presenting
a black belt, the leader’s sixth.
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