Expressing concern over 100,000 innocent lives lost in the just concluded “cruel war” against LTTE, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa said his latest challenge is to rehabilitate the displaced Tamil civilians.

Rajapaksa currently on a state visit to Myanmar, his first one after the conclusion of the three decade war with the LTTE, said that his latest challenge was to rehabilitate the war-torn region and bring normalcy to people’s lives.

“The 30-year-old cruel war against terrorism cost 100,000 lives,” the State run Daily News quoted Rajapaksa as saying at Nay Pyi Taw, the new capital of Myanmar, on Sunday.

Expressing satisfaction at being able to successfully conclude the humanitarian operation against terrorism (LTTE), the Lankan President said his visit to Myanmar was the first one after the victory.

Rajapaksa also said that he was able to create a free and independent society in which everybody could live together in equality and harmony in accordance with the teachings of Buddhism.

President Rajapaksa and the Sri Lankan delegation were received at the Nay Pay Taw airport by Chairman of the State Peace and Development Council of the Union of Myanmar, Senior General Than Shwe. He also thanked the Myanmar government for donating $50,000 for the welfare of the IDPs in the north.