Sri Lanka marks independence

WATCH VIDEO

Source: CCTV.com | 02-05-2009 09:17

Sri Lanka celebrated the 61st anniversary of its independence from Britain on Wednesday. Military forces, police, religious leaders, and government officials were present for the grand occasion.

Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa and his wife  Shiranthi leave after Independence Day celebrations in  Colombo February 4, 2009.  REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe(SRI LANKA)

President Mahinda Rajapaska said his country has won true freedom, with his campaign to crush the Tamil Tiger rebels. He said the past 30 years have been spent tackling separatist terrorism, but that troops are now inching towards victory in the civil war.

With peace restored, he appealed to Sri Lankans overseas to return to the island, adding that his troops would soon completely crush the rebels.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for an independent homeland in Sri Lanka since the 1980s, resulting in the deaths of more than 70-thousand people.

Click for more news in Asia Today>>

Editor:Zhang Yun