the ltte then declared Expressing_publicly they would `` resume their freedom struggle Hostile_encounter to achieve Achieve statehood '' . < ref unk '' unk '' > < unk > in 2007 , the government shifted Change its offensive to the north of the country , and formally announced Expressing_publicly its withdrawal Removing from the ceasefire agreement on 2 january 2008 , alleging Statement that the ltte violated the agreement over 10,000 unk < ref unk '' unk '' > < unk > since then , aided Assistance by the destruction of a number of large arms smuggling vessels that belonged to the ltte , < ref unk '' unk '' > < unk > and an international crackdown on the funding for the tamil tigers , the government took Creating control Control of the entire area previously controlled Control by the tamil tigers , including their de facto capital kilinochchi , main military base mullaitivu and the entire a9 highway , < ref unk '' unk '' > sri lankan forces capture Conquering last major rebel base in northeast , `` bloomberg '' . < unk > leading the ltte to finally admit defeat on 17 may 2009 .