Lions Vs Tigers (Extracted from Thesara Jayawardena's article)
Sri Lankan Civil War is what we call the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka, since 23rd July 1983.The on-and-off civil war is between the Sri Lankan government and the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
LTTE, also known as the Tamil Tigers, is a separatist armed organization which fights for the creation of an independent state named Tamil Eelam in the north and the east of Sri Lanka.Named as world's deadliest group of guerrilla fighters, LTTE has caused significant danger to the population, environment and the economy of Sri Lanka.Nearly 100,000 people have been officially listed as killed in the war since 1983. Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is an organization banned as a terrorist organization in 32 countries, including the United States, Australia, Canada and the member nations of the European Union.
After almost 20 years of fighting and failing three times at peace talks, including the time when Indian Army operated a peacekeeping force from 1987 to 1990, another cease-fire agreement was declared in December 2001. This was followed by a ceasefire agreement signed with international intercession in 2002.
By the end of 2005 conflict between LTTE & the SL Government began to rise until the government launched a number of major military attacks against the LTTE beginning in July 2006. The Sri Lankan military forces were successful in driving the LTTE out of the entire Eastern province of the island.
In 2007, Sri Lanka Military forced extended their attacks to the north of the country. The withdrawal from the ceasefire agreement was formally announced on
2nd January 2008. The Sri Lankan Government pointed out that the LTTE violated the agreement over 10,000 times.
Since then, the Sri Lankan Government took control over almost the entire territory previously controlled by the Tamil Tigers, including their capital Kilinochchi, main military base Mullaitivu and the entire A9 highway.
The fate of civilians trapped in the 'no-fire zone' became a major concern for the international community at this stage of war. On 22nd April 2009, the UN Security Council has called on Tamil Tiger rebels to lay down their arms and let the UN help evacuate civilians from the war zone.
On 17th May 2009, the Sri Lankan Army reported that all civilians had escaped from the warzone, freeing up the military to finish off the rebel forces and leading the Honorable President Mahinda Rajapakshe to declare military victory.
Sri Lankan troops raced to clear the last LTTE pockets of resistance.As the last LTTE strong-points collapsed, Sri Lankan troops killed 70 rebels attempting to escape by boat. Several Important LTTE commanders committed suicide. Upon hearing news of the Sri Lankan victory, people celebrated all around the country. After 26 years of fighting the separatists, the war had been won by the Sri Lankan Government.
The LTTE finally admitted defeat on 17th May 2009, with the rebels' chief of international relations, Selvarasa Pathmanathan, stating on the website that "This battle has reached its bitter end ... We have decided to silence our guns. Our only regrets are for the lives lost and that we could not hold out for longer"
Today, 18th May 2009 The Sri Lanka Army forces confirmed, the leader of the LTTE, Velupillai Prabhakaran, was shot dead in the morning.
