Two top LTTE leaders killed; Rajapaksa returns to Sri Lanka

COLOMBO: President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday returned to Sri Lanka from Jordan where he announced his military's victory over the LTTE, even as two top Tiger leaders were among 70 killed in last legs of fighting amid unconfirmed reports of about 300 rebels committing suicide.

Returning to Colombo after cutting short his visit, Rajapaksa saluted his country, which he said has been "liberated" from LTTE's terrorism, as he was welcomed by hundreds of supporters at the international airport here.

"Before stepping on Sri Lankan soil, Rajapaksa, who had gone to attend the G-11 summit in Jordan, paid tribute to his motherland by placing his forehead on the ground and worshiping the land he has liberated from terrorism," the Defence Ministry said.

On his arrival he was welcomed by his cabinet and was blessed by Buddhist, Catholic, Hindu and Muslim priests.

Meanwhile, senior LTTE leaders Swarnam and Shashi Master were reportedly killed in fierce fighting during the last legs of confrontation between troops and the LTTE yesterday, the ministry said.

Even as LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran's whereabouts remained a mystery, unconfirmed reports said that about 300 LTTE cadres committed mass suicide last night after troops zeroed in on them in the country's embattled north.