No formal declaration of war comes until President D Rajapaksa returns . PM : Country is on the brink , we have called for violence to stop . Rebels have fought for an independent state for the Tamils since 1983 . Government officials : Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran believed to be in area of fighting .
No formal declaration of victory expected until President Mahinda Rajapaksa returns . PM : Country is on the brink , we have called for violence to stop . Rebels have fought for an independent state for minority Tamils since 1983 . Navy officials : Tigers leader Velupillai Prabhakaran believed to be in area of fighting .