On this day - 18 May

The Sri Lankan civil war lasted over 25 years and had its roots in tension between two ethnic groups on the island. There had been discrimination by the Sinhalese against the Tamils through acts including laws to prevent them obtaining citizenship, deportation and banning the import of Tamil media. Several militant groups began to form, particularly in the north and east of the country. The most prominent was the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

On May 16th 2009, the Sri Lankan government declared they had defeated the LTTE. The country has been seeking a political solution to the situation. The economic cost and humanitarian cost of the war was vast. International sanctions remain against individuals in political and militaristic positions who sanctioned war crimes and violations of human rights.