Sri Lankan Civil War: Difference between revisions

===Reaction===

{{Main|Reactions to the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War}}

{{cite news |url= http://english.people.com.cn/90001/90780/91343/6661064.html |title=Sri Lanka hails end to 26-year civil war |newspaper=People |date=19 May 2009 |accessdate=21 January 2012}}</ref> Opposition leader Ranil Wickremasinghe, through a telephone call, congratulated President Rajapaksa and the state security forces for their victory over the LTTE.<ref>{{cite web|author=Gamini Gunaratna, Sri Lanka News Paper by LankaPage.com (LLC)- Latest Hot News from Sri Lanka |url=http://www.colombopage.com/archive_091/May1242653081CH.html |title=Sri Lanka: Opposition Leader congratulates Sri Lanka President |publisher=Colombopage.com |date=18 May 2009 |accessdate=30 May 2009}}</ref> Religious leaders too hailed the end of the bloodshed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defence.lk/new.asp?fname=20090518_15 |title=Archbishop congratulates Armed forces on the conclusion of war |publisher=Defence.lk |date=18 May 2009 |accessdate=30 May 2009}}</ref> International response for the end of the fighting has also been positive and welcoming, while some countries expressed concern over the civilian casualties and the humanitarian impact. [[United Nations Secretary General]] [[Ban Ki-moon]] said, "I am relieved by the conclusion of the military operation, but I am deeply troubled by the loss of so many civilian lives. The task now facing the people of Sri Lanka is immense and requires all hands. It is most important that every effort be undertaken to begin a process of healing and national reconciliation".<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.un.org/apps/sg/offthecuff.asp?nid=1291|title = Geneva, 19 May 2009 – Joint Press Conference held by UN Secretary-General and World Health Organization Director-General, Margaret Chan|publisher= United Nations|accessdate=19 May 2009|date = 19 May 2009}}</ref> [[Time (magazine)|Time]] magazine named the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War as one of the top 10 news stories of 2009.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1945379_1944421_1944388,00.html|title =The End of Sri Lanka's Cataclysmic Civil War|work=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|accessdate=21 January 2012|date=8 December 2009}}</ref>