Beginning in the late 1970s, the ethnic conflict between Sri Lanka's majority Sinhalese and minority Tamils lasted nearly three decades.
Based in Jaffna in the north of the island, the secessionist Tamil group Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) controlled a small territory nearly independent of government control for many years. Citing oppression by the Sinhalese and wanting an independent homeland or "Eelam", the Tamil group's elusive and radical head Vellupillai Prabhakaran ensured years of deadly civil conflict in Sri Lanka from 1983 onwards.
The group was held responsible for several assassinations, including former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1991 and Sri Lankan president Ranasinghe Premadasa in 1993. The rebel group pioneered the use of women suicide bombers, the suicide belt and also using women and children in combat.
The LTTE was declared a terrorist organisation by various countries including the United States and the European Union.
In 2002, Norwegian mediation saw a landmark peace deal between the government and the rebels, but a year later the LTTE pulled out.
In 2008, Sri Lanka then launched an all-out military campaign against the Tigers and declared military victory on May 18, 2009, crushing the dream of 'Tamil Eelam'.
