The parts of northern and eastern Sri Lanka which were formerly under the control of the LTTE were run as a de facto state with its own government in these areas. The Tamil Tigers also established a military wing with land combat force, naval force (the Sea Tigers), air wing which they called "Tamil Eelam Air Force", In addition, the LTTE had run a judicial system complete with local, supreme and high courts. The US state department alleged that the judges had very little standards or training and acted as agents to LTTE; it also accused the LTTE of forcing Tamils under their control to accept their judicial system. Furthermore, within areas controlled by the LTTE the Tigers performed state functions including the operation of a civil Police Force, Human Rights organizations, offices for the coordination of humanitarian assistance board, health boards and education boards. It also ran a Bank (Bank of Tamil Eelam), a radio station (Voice of Tigers) and a Television station (National Television of Tamil Eelam)

Following the capture of Kilinochchi which had been the administrative capital of Tamil Eelam on January 2, 2009, the LTTE's civil administration system was suspended as the "state" of Tamil Eelam was gradually crushed by the resurgent Sri Lankan Army. The last pocket of territory controlled by the LTTE and vis-a-vis the remaining part of Tamil Eelam was captured by the Sri Lankan Army on 18 May 2009. During this operation almost the entire civil and military leadership of the LTTE/Tamil Eelam were liquidated.

Pro Tamil groups advocating independence for Tamil areas of Sri Lanka continue to run websites and radio telecasts. This information is reaching the Tamil diaspora in Britain, Australia and Canada.. Since May 19, 2009 it can be said that Tamil Eelam has ceased to exist as a physical entity and is now only a political aspiration among some sections of the global Tamil community.

References
Support for regional autonomy
Governance
Development