The LTTE, which was two thousand strong when the Indian forc es arrived, had over five thousand men and women under arms when the Indians withdrew. Thileepan's death was significant as he almost single-handedly united the Tamil people behind the LTTE by highlighting the Indian government's lack of concern for the Tamils' rights in pursuit of its strategic interests. The Indian government's contempt f or a Gandhian-style protest won more hearts and minds for the Tigers than they could have envisaged. Each year, the Tamil people mark the anniversary of Thileepan's death. Sports events, literary contests, science and art exhibitions and other public events take place across the Tamil homelands in his honour.
Some people fast in remembrance and many oth ers undertake voluntary work.
The Tamil expatriate communities across the world also mark this period.