Sri Lanka celebrates National Day despite violence up north

Video: Rajapaksa hails end of LTTE

 

 
 Colombo celebrates as Tigers ‘face defeat’ 
 

Sri Lanka’s president has addressed National day parades, declaring the country is close to the end of the civil war that has raged for almost half the time it’s been independent of Britain.

An end to the conflict would be a huge relief, but rebuilding shattered lives and restoring trust will take time and it won’t be easy.

Al Jazeera’s Minelle Fernandez reports from Colombo.