Sahayaseeli Pedhuruppillai, alias Malathi (or Malathy) (1967–1987), was a female Sri Lankan Tamil Tigers fighter, the first to die in combat, hence revered as the first female martyr.
Her death anniversary is commemorated as Women's Awakening day.
On 10 October 1987, Malathi was injured in combat when an LTTE women unit, which she was leading, was confronted by the IPKF near Navatkuli-Kopay Road in Kopay near Jaffna.
In the battle, she was bleeding profusely and rendered immobile when her fellow fighter soldier girls rescued her.
Malathi, realizing the grave situation, wanted the girls to leave her and go on with the fight, and then took her cyanide capsule to avoid being captured.