The war lasted 26 years and was characterized by extreme brutality on all sides:
Today, most Sinhalese and Tamils live in separate social, linguistic, and physical worlds. Intermarriage is rare. Television news in both languages tells completely different versions of recent history. While violent conflict has not returned, a "cold peace" prevails. tamil sinhala
The war ended in a brutal climax in May 2009. The Sri Lankan Army cornered the LTTE on a narrow strip of beach in the north-east. In the final months, an estimated 40,000–70,000 Tamil civilians were killed in the "No Fire Zone," according to a UN report. The LTTE’s leadership was eliminated, and the state declared total victory. There was no negotiated settlement. The war lasted 26 years and was characterized