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| Military marks Lanka anniversary | |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| A large military parade has been held under tight security in Sri Lanka's capital, Colombo, to mark the 60th anniversary of national independence. | |
| The anniversary comes as fighting has intensified between the government and the Tamil Tigers. | The anniversary comes as fighting has intensified between the government and the Tamil Tigers. |
| Security forces are on high alert. At least 11 people were killed in a suicide attack at Colombo's main railway station on Sunday. | |
| On Saturday, 18 people died in a bus blast in the central town of Dambulla. | |
| Both were blamed by the government on the Tamil Tigers rebels, though the rebels have denied involvement. | Both were blamed by the government on the Tamil Tigers rebels, though the rebels have denied involvement. |
| The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says Monday morning's parade is a show of strength by Sri Lanka's armed forces - once again, officially at war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. | The BBC's Roland Buerk in Colombo says Monday morning's parade is a show of strength by Sri Lanka's armed forces - once again, officially at war with the Tamil Tiger rebels. |
| Attack fears | Attack fears |
| "Our security forces are today achieving victories against terrorism unprecedented in history. Terrorism is receiving an unprecedented defeat," President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in an anniversary address in Colombo. | "Our security forces are today achieving victories against terrorism unprecedented in history. Terrorism is receiving an unprecedented defeat," President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in an anniversary address in Colombo. |
| The parade is the first major event since the truce officially ended | The parade is the first major event since the truce officially ended |
| "In less than two years we have liberated the large Eastern Province that was under the clutches of the terrorists and confined them to two districts, only." | "In less than two years we have liberated the large Eastern Province that was under the clutches of the terrorists and confined them to two districts, only." |
| The president said that "the defeat of the most ruthless terrorists of the world in Sri Lanka is also a victory of the developed world". | The president said that "the defeat of the most ruthless terrorists of the world in Sri Lanka is also a victory of the developed world". |
| "We are also fully committed to carry on this battle while safeguarding human rights. This is the reality," he said. | "We are also fully committed to carry on this battle while safeguarding human rights. This is the reality," he said. |
| "In short, two years ago, no one believed that terrorists could be defeated. But, during the last two years we made it a reality in our motherland." | "In short, two years ago, no one believed that terrorists could be defeated. But, during the last two years we made it a reality in our motherland." |
| The Tigers have marked independence day by once again saying they will fight on for a separate state for the Tamil minority in the north and east. | The Tigers have marked independence day by once again saying they will fight on for a separate state for the Tamil minority in the north and east. |
| "This is not a day of independence nor is it a day of celebration for our people," rebel spokesman B Nadesan said. | "This is not a day of independence nor is it a day of celebration for our people," rebel spokesman B Nadesan said. |
| "The Sri Lankan government are still continuing its ethnic cleansing and mass killings among the Tamil people." | "The Sri Lankan government are still continuing its ethnic cleansing and mass killings among the Tamil people." |
| Sea fears | |
| Ranks of soldiers, sailors and airmen were drawn up on grounds overlooking the Indian Ocean for Monday's parade. | |
| Tanks and trucks carrying multi-barrelled rocket launchers rumbled past. Heavy guns fired a salute sending smoke drifting out over the blue water, our correspondent says. | Tanks and trucks carrying multi-barrelled rocket launchers rumbled past. Heavy guns fired a salute sending smoke drifting out over the blue water, our correspondent says. |
| The station blast was the latest in a series of attacks | The station blast was the latest in a series of attacks |
| Much of the centre of Colombo was been sealed off by military checkpoints. | |
| Thousands of police and troops were deployed on the streets and the navy stepped up coastal patrols to combat a possible sea-borne attack. | |
| Last month, the government pulled out of the 2002 ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers, arguing the rebels had used it to re-group and re-arm. | Last month, the government pulled out of the 2002 ceasefire with the Tamil Tigers, arguing the rebels had used it to re-group and re-arm. |
| Since then, fighting has intensified on the frontlines that surround Tiger-held territory in the north. | Since then, fighting has intensified on the frontlines that surround Tiger-held territory in the north. |
| Sri Lanka's army commander Lt-Gen Sarath Fonseka has said he now aims to defeat the rebels by the end of the year. | Sri Lanka's army commander Lt-Gen Sarath Fonseka has said he now aims to defeat the rebels by the end of the year. |
| The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. | The Tamil Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in the north and east since 1983. |