Sri Lanka pays tribute to war heroes after defeating rebels

COLOMBO, May 22 -- Tens of thousands of Sri Lankans participated here Friday in a public display of its gratitude towards the soldiers who had laid down their lives in the battle against Tamil Tiger rebels.

The state sponsored public rally presided over by President Mahinda Rajapakse was attended by hordes of national flag waiving public.

Addressing the gathering, Rajapakse said that his gallant troops had been able to crush the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) with the reputation as the world's most ruthless terrorist group.

"I have unified the country due to the sacrifices made by my troops. It's only one flag now that flutters throughout the country," Rajapakse said.

"Training camps for under aged children exist no more -- there are no arms of destruction firing from any part of the country. People have won freedom," Rajapakse said.

Rajapakse's troops managed to completely dismantle the presence of the LTTE from the north and east of the country.

The LTTE for nearly three decades controlled 15,000 sq km of areas including the entire northeastern coastal parts.

The troops on Tuesday reported the end of the military campaign with the discovery of the body of the LTTE's reclusive rebel leader Velupillai Prabhakaran.

The three-year campaign cost the lives of 6,261 soldiers and 22,000 Tamil Tiger rebels. The military said 29,551 soldiers also suffered injuries in the fighting.