Analysts had predicted a closely-fought contest between the two architects of the government's victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels.

After serving through the early parts of the country's civil war with Tamil Tiger rebels, he retired from the Army in 1992.

Thousands of civilians were hemmed in as the government battled Tamil Tiger rebels fighting for a separate homeland.

Tamil Tiger rebels were primarily criticised for allegedly using civilians as human shields.

Two civilians died in the blast, for which the police blamed Tamil Tiger rebels.

He blamed the Tamil Tiger rebels for the blast, which wounded mostly civilians.

But in the spring of 1985, Tamil Tiger rebels attacked the police station near the library.

The governing party won an overwhelming mandate in local elections, a victory seen as an endorsement of a truce with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Tamil Tiger rebels will not be a part of the council unless they renounce violence, officials said.

At the weekend government patrol boats engaged Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern seas.