Just months ago, many of them were treated here for injuries sustained as the Sri Lankan army defeated Tamil Tiger rebels.

ECONOMIST: Eking a living from handouts

As it advances into the Tiger's last domain, the army must be careful to distinguish civilians from rebel fighters.

ECONOMIST: Sri Lanka

Colombo had calculated that Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran would throw his guerrillas at the army to prevent it breaking through the road.

CNN: THE ROAD OF NO RETURN

The army persuaded her that it could end the Tiger problem militarily.

ECONOMIST: Sri Lanka