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Colombo: Many roads throughout the Sri Lankan capital of Colombo were sealed off on Monday as thousands in the country prepared to celebrate Independence Day.
In a nationally televised address, President Mahinda Rajapaksa rallied against the Tamil Tiger rebels, emphasising that economic and security difficulties in the country would soon be over.
Rajapaksa vowed he would crush rebel attacks and said that the issue would be the main focus of his government.
The country was put on high alert as an unknown caller claiming to be from a rebel group warned of bomb attacks during Monday's celebrations.
"Please, be careful. There are going to be bombs in Colombo in some places," the caller told Reuters, saying he represented Ellalan Forces, a name the military identified as Tiger fighters operating in the capital.
The Tigers were not immediately available for comment.
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