48 hours to end a decades-old war?

President Mahinda Rajapaksa has vowed to end the civil war against the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam within 48 hours, but can a decades-old war ever really be put to rest?

The military was still battling Friday to gain complete control of the country's coastline, a slice of which is still occupied by the LTTE. The UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also sent his chief of staff, Vijay Nambiar, to help bring the conflict to a peaceful conclusion.

However, UN spokesman Gordon Weiss says there are still 50,000 to 100,000 civilians remaining inside the combat zone and their safety must still be secured. And although there is only a small slice of coastline still occupied by the TTLE, who can guarantee their defeat?

There are no journalists or media representatives allowed near the war zone, and so, the only news of the situation is being delivered through government and military voices.

Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama told The Associated Press that Sri Lankan soldiers were probably fighting their final battle against the remaining rebel fighters and reports indicate relatives of top rebel leaders are starting to flee the war zone.

“Probably” fighting their final battle? They ‘probably’ thought that’s what they were doing ten, twenty years ago.

With LTTE members and supports fleeing their legend lives on and the opportunity of a similar uproar in the future seems very achievable. LTTE leaders have told the media their defeat will not come so easily. They have said if there demands are not achieved, they will continue to fight.

So how can we say when it’s really over?