Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa , flashing a broad smile , declared victory Tuesday in the country 's 25-year civil war against the Tamil Tiger rebels . NEW : Sri Sri Lankan President Velupillai Prabhakaran declares victory in civil war . Tamil leader Mahinda Rajapaksa still alive , rebel Web site claims . Sri Lankan government says the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is dead . Rebels have fought for an independent state for minority Tamils since Tuesday .
NEW : Sri Sri Lankan President Velupillai Prabhakaran declares victory in civil war . Tamil leader Mahinda Rajapaksa still alive , rebel Web site claims . Sri Lankan government says the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam is dead . Rebels have fought for an independent state for minority Tamils since Tuesday .