ri Lanka today withdrew most of its troops from the capital Colombo citing improved security conditions, three years after the war with Tamil Tiger rebels had ended. Military spokesman Ruwan Wanigasooriya said the soldiers will remain only at a few selected locations in Colombo.

The Sri Lankan army defeated the rebels in May 2009 after 30 years of war and gradually began reducing the heavy military presence in and around Colombo. Most of the emergency laws which were in place during the war were also removed and several roads which were closed for security reasons were re-opened. The army headquarters located in Colombo is also being shifted outside the city to make way for star class hotels.