Sri Lanka's President Mahinda Rajapaksa sings the national anthem as Air Force Commander Air Marshal Roshan Gunatilake salutes during Independence Day celebrations in Colombo in this February 4, 2009 file photo. To win a quarter-century war four of his predecessors could not, Rajapaksa did what none of them would: gave the military near-unlimited power. But now that he has claimed victory over the Tamil Tiger rebels in one of Asia's longest-running wars, Rajapaksa has moved quickly to diffuse the military's influence as he eyes another term in office and rejuvenating the war-hit economy. REUTERS/Buddhika Weerasinghe/Files (SRI LANKA MILITARY POLITICS CONFLICT)
REUTERS/BUDDHIKA WEERASINGHE