Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has vowed to wipe out terrorism in the country by next year, as security forces stepped up operations to take control of LTTE stronghold of Kilinochchi.

"Year 2009 will be the year of triumph over terrorism. Next year we will rid the country of brutal terrorism," the state run Daily News quoted Rajapaksa as saying.

Rajapaksa was speaking at a function here early this week to confer State honours upon veteran cinema actress Malani Fonseka who recently won the Golden Peacock Award for Best Actress for the film Akasha Kusum at the 99th Indian International Film Festival held in Goa, India. The film will be screened next year.

"We could consider artistes who won international awards through the portrayal of Sri Lankan identities as valuable to us than those who earn such awards by bringing disrepute to the motherland," Rajapaksa said.

At another function, the Sri Lankan President said the nation's security forces had confronted the "most ruthless terrorist outfit (LTTE) in the world" and defeated them, by re-capturing every inch of land from them.

Paying tributes to the war heroes who achieved a series of victories in Pooneryn, Kilinochchi and elsewhere, he said they emerged victorious and have undoubtedly become a shining example of grit, courage, integrity and discipline.

"Their glorious achievements have now surpassed the doom of gunfire and given rise to an aura of joyful celebrations in the south," he said during the function near here.

Source : PTI