Sri Lanka marks decade of end of civil war

Sri Lanka, still reeling under the scars of the Easter Sunday bomb blasts, Saturday marked 10 years of the end of the nearly brutal civil war between the government and the LTTE even as it came under criticism for failing to ensure justice for the victims.

The Sri Lankan government on May 18, 2009 killed Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam ( LTTE) chief Velupillai Prabhakaran in the coastal village of in Mullaittivu, bringing to an end the bloody armed conflict fought mainly in the north and east of the island nation.

   

At least 100,000 people were killed in the over three-decade-long conflict. Thousands of people, including security personnel, are still reported to be missing after the war.

Hundreds of people gathered in parts of Northern Sri Lankato remember the victims of the war, the Colombo Gazette reported.

The government will commemorate the war heroes during theVictory Day celebrations on Sunday, the Ministry of Defence said in astatement.

It asked the public to light a “Lamp of Peace” inthe memory of those who laid down their lives for the country.

“The commemoration of the completion of a decade ofpeace since eradicating terrorism that plagued Sri Lanka for three long decadesby the valiant War Heroes, falls on 2019.05.19,” it said in the statement.

“To coincide with the “Dasavarshikabhisheka”commemoration, it is requested from the general public to light a ‘Lamp ofPeace’ at all places of worship, state and private sector organizations, homes,police stations and tri-forces establishments island-wide on 2019.05.19 at1900hrs,” it said.

However, human rights organisations blamed the government offailing to provide justice to the victims even after a decade after the war,the Colombo Gazette reported.

The Amnesty International called on the government to endimpunity and put accountability for crimes under international law and humanrights violations and abuses at the heart of its transitional justice process.

“It is worrying to see the recurrence of hostility andviolence against ethnic and religious minorities in Sri Lanka. While thegovernment has committed itself to a process of reconciliation, the wounds ofthe past will only heal if there is justice, truth and reparation,” BirajPatnaik, South Asia Director at Amnesty International, said.The Human Rights Watch said that the end of thewar provided the country with an opportunity not only to rebuild shatteredlives and society, but also to restore respect for rights and the rule of law.

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