19 August 2012 Last updated at 01:08

In pictures: War-ravaged Sri Lanka

Wreckage of a bus cordoned off in north-eastern Sri Lanka

The BBC has gained rare access to the north-eastern tip of Sri Lanka where the final bloody stage of the war was fought in 2009. Destruction abounds.

Remnants of a destroyed building, north-eastern Sri Lanka

The devastation is greatest here around Putumattalan and Mullivaikkal.

Mr Thanabalasingham in Puthukudiyiruppu, north-eastern Sri Lanka

In Puthukudiyiruppu, Mr Thanabalasingham, visiting from a camp, finds his home in ruins. This is the only piece of furniture not looted. “You can’t repair this house – we’ll need to destroy it.”

Damaged building in Puthukudiyiruppu, north-eastern Sri Lanka

Almost every building in Puthukudiyiruppu is destroyed. But its people are now returning from displacement camps far away beyond Vavuniya.

Many trees were damaged in shelling and firing.

Soldier stands beside landmines, north-eastern Sri Lanka

The landscape is littered with vast numbers of landmines and other unexploded remnants of war.

Member of a demining unit, north-eastern Sri Lanka

The Sri Lankan army’s Humanitarian Demining Unit is involved in intensive work.

Members of the Mines Advisory Group, north-eastern Sri Lanka

Non-governmental organisations such as the UK-based Mines Advisory Group are also demining - many have trained local women in this expert work.

Soldier stands in a ruined Roman Catholic church, north-eastern Sri Lanka

Standing in a ruined Roman Catholic church, this Sinhalese soldier told the BBC that he, like many local Tamils, is a Catholic.

Long bund or sand rampart built by the LTTE (Tamil Tigers) at Putumattalan

This is the long bund or sand rampart built by the LTTE (Tamil Tigers), including one of their bunkers, at Putumattalan. This line of defence failed and they were overrun in May 2009.

Jordanian ship impounded by the LTTE in 2006, north-esatern Sri Lanka

Sri Lankan tourists, mostly Sinhalese, now flock to war sites such as this Jordanian ship impounded by the LTTE in 2006 and broken up by them for its metal.

An undamaged or repaired Hindu temple (kovil) near Mullivaikkal. Like many local signs this is in Sinhala although there are English and Tamil signboards too.

With destruction like this it will still take years more to complete mine clearance.

Fishing boats not far away at Mullaitivu beach – a sign of how things once were and will, perhaps, one day be again all along the coast. (Photos/captions by Charles Haviland)

Asia

In pictures: War-ravaged Sri Lanka

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