Sri Lanka Marks Independence Day

ANCHOR:
Sri Lankans are marking their 61st independence day today in the capital city of Colombo. It comes as government forces are surrounding Tamil Tiger rebels in a major military offensive.

STORY:
As Sri Lanka marked 61 years of independence from British rule, president Mahinda Rajapaksa gave them another reason to celebrate.

[Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lankan President]:
"Our troops have given us the opportunity to see the dawn of an honorable peace for the country. They have sacrificed their flesh, blood, and lives to bring this great historic opportunity to our motherland. Our troops were able to carry forward the battle against terror with great care so as not to harass the innocent Tamil people."

Showing off their military might, troops marched through the streets and fighter jets flew above.

Rajapaksa said their mission to end the years of deadly conflict is almost over.

[Mahinda Rajapaksa, Sri Lankan President]:
"We have now been able, within a short span of two and a half years, to almost completely defeat the cowardly forces of terror that had wrapped our entire nation in fear through several decades."

The celebrations were taking place amid high security, with the military on high alert.

Troops are surrounding a 300 square kilometer area in the northeast of the country, drawing in on the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

They are aiming to put an end to the war that started in 1983 and has claimed the lives of thousands of people.

The European Union and the United States have urged the rebels to surrender to avoid more deaths.

The U.S and the United Kingdom are concerned about the welfare of thousands of civilians trapped in the conflict zone.

If Sri Lanka succeed in what they have set out to do, they will have reason to celebrate another victory.

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• ntd
• sri lanka
• independence day
• colombo
• tamil tiger rebels
• military offensive
• briish rule
• mahinda rajapaksa

[WorldTamilsVoice]

genocide on tamils supported by china's weapons...what do u expect...from u little folk...ever heared of humanrights...i guess selling weapons killing tamil childrens make u chinease people proud...yes we hope u stop selling to an unreasonable country like sri lanka...like the USA did...ok...Usa

[USMarines77]

BEST ARMY IN SOUTH ASIA.

[USMarines77]

Wow Kafirs.....

[BraveSL]

stupid tamil bitch..get a life..or go to hell with fucking cow pee drincker prabha..

[wildchild6660]

Lol the stupid son of a bitch has nothing to say to that.

[Dennylanka]

PIG = Prabbakaran ( Leader of LTTE and Some Tamils belive he is the God 'Krishna')

For us he is PIG. For dum idiots he is a God. Some Tamils dont know hw to respect for their religon.

[jkathiresan]

why a pig lol

[Dennylanka]

What a dum tamil. The world most dengerous Tamil tiger rebel's peelam is gone. Go and worship ur PIG idiot.

Bounch of loosers.

[TAMiiLSouLjA]

Tiger terrorists in order to prevent the entry of troops into the north of CHALAI have been mounting artillery attacks, but the troops responded with the same fire-power effectively, killing LTTEs top-rung leaders, VINAYAGAM alias MIKE-4, PAGALAVAN, CADER, SINNAKANNAN, ANNAVELAN and at least a dozen more terrorists, the Army Headquarters confirmed.

[frankmen3]

Its might not be the Indipendance day for all the Tamils yet because some of them are still being ised as human shields. I agree, the human cost is huge to liberate civilians from LTTE clutches. This campaign is not for chicken shits who are hiding in overseas behind LTTE ass. This whole campain is for the innocent people (both tamils and singhalese) who chose to live in Sri Lanka expecting oneday the "peace" will come on their way.