PoliticsGeneralHOTMonday, May 18, 2026

Sri Lanka Marks 17 Years Since End of Brutal LTTE Conflict

TLDR

17th anniversary of 30-year conflict end marked May 18.
National Victory Celebration held May 19, led by President Dissanayake.
Event includes war hero families, first time North-East relatives.
Commemorates rescue of thousands and sovereignty.

Today, May 18th, marks the 17th anniversary of Sri Lanka's victory over the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), bringing an end to over three decades of brutal terrorism. The war officially concluded on May 18, 2009, with the death of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in the Nandikadal lagoon. The LTTE's separatist campaign began with the assassination of Jaffna Mayor Alfred Duraiappah in 1975. To commemorate this military victory, the National Victory Commemoration Ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow, May 19th, at the Ranaviru Memorial in Battaramulla, presided over by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

2 Updates

Update #3\u00b7 May 19 · 12:37 AM

The National Victory Celebration is being held today, May 19th, at the War Heroes Monument in Battaramulla, presided over by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This year's event features increased participation from war hero families, including, for the first time, relatives of war heroes who died in the North-East. The end of the 30-year conflict, which protected the sovereignty of the motherland, was marked on May 18, 2009, at Nandikadal Lagoon.

Update #2\u00b7 May 18 · 9:33 AM

Sri Lanka marks 17 years since the end of the decades-long conflict. The nation remembers the large-scale humanitarian operation that led to the rescue of thousands of civilians, with credit attributed to the security forces and tributes paid to war heroes. A National War Heroes Commemoration ceremony is scheduled for tomorrow, to be presided over by President Anura Kumara Dissanayake.

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