By: Isuru Parakrama
May 18, Colombo (LNW): Today marks sixteen years since the curtain fell on one of South Asia’s most protracted and devastating internal conflicts.
The civil war in Sri Lanka, which claimed tens of thousands of lives and left deep scars on the island nation, drew to a close on May 18, 2009, following the death of Velupillai Prabhakaran, the long-time leader of the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
The final act of the conflict unfolded near the Nandikadal Lagoon in the island’s north-east, where government forces neutralised the LTTE’s remaining leadership. With this, a brutal campaign for a separate Tamil state, which had raged across the island for over three decades, came to an end.
For many in the country, this was a moment of profound relief and fragile hope — ushering in a new era fraught with both promise and the daunting task of reconciliation.
Whilst the conflict’s conclusion has often been portrayed as a military triumph, it also signified a massive civilian rescue effort. In the final stages of the war, government troops undertook what officials described as one of the largest humanitarian missions in modern warfare, freeing thousands of civilians who had been trapped in the crossfire or used as human shields.
The legacy of the war remains deeply complex. For some, the security forces are regarded as national protectors who safeguarded the country’s sovereignty. For others, particularly in the Tamil-majority Northern and Eastern provinces, the final months of the war still stir painful memories of displacement, loss, and unresolved questions around accountability and justice.
To mark the sixteenth anniversary of the conflict’s end, a national ceremony is set to take place on 19 May at the National War Hero Cenotaph in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte. Scheduled from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., the event will be held under the patronage of Retired Major General Aruna Jayasekara, the current Deputy Minister of Defence.
Amongst the invited dignitaries are key military figures who played pivotal roles in the final phase of the war, including Field Marshal Sarath Fonseka, Admiral of the Fleet Wasantha Karannagoda, and Marshal of the Air Force Roshan Goonetileke.
This annual remembrance, widely referred to as National War Heroes’ Day, has grown into a highly symbolic observance that celebrates the end of the insurgency, whilst honouring those who served in uniform.
As part of the commemorations, the Patriotic National Front held a press briefing on the eve of the anniversary, encouraging citizens to display the national flag at their homes as an expression of unity and national pride.
Yet as the country prepares to pay tribute to those who shaped the outcome of the conflict, the anniversary also prompts reflection on the path ahead. Sixteen years on, many are calling for a more inclusive national dialogue that can reconcile differing narratives of the war — and ensure that peace is not only preserved but also made meaningful for all Sri Lankans, regardless of ethnicity, language, or political allegiance.
