Thousands of people celebrated on the streets of Colombo after Sri Lanka's Government declared the war against the Tamil Tigers over and the military said it had killed the rebels' leader. By Sally Sara in Colombo for AM, first published on Tuesday 19th May, 2009 6:10am AEST on The ABC News website.

Sri Lanka's army chief, General Sarath Fonseca, says all combat operations against the Tamil Tigers have now ended. The military says Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran and several of his senior commanders have been shot dead.

Prabhakaran was reportedly killed by special forces troops as he tried to flee the war zone in an ambulance. The army says the bodies of another four prominent rebels were found during the army's mopping-up operations.

The Government says Prabhakaran's death signals the end of the 26-year civil war.

Crowds gathered outside the presidential palace and residents danced and let off fire crackers as the news broke in Colombo.

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