Sri Lankan government says Tamil chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead . - The United States and the European Union impose sanctions on several senior members of President Rajapaksa's government. It pioneered the use of women in suicide attacks and , according to the FBI , invented the explosive suicide belt . Rebels have fought for an independent state for minority Tamils since 1983 .
Sri Lankan government says Tamil chief Velupillai Prabhakaran is dead . - The United States and the European Union impose sanctions on several senior members of President Rajapaksa's government. Rebels have fought for an independent state for minority Tamils since 1983 .