COLOMBO: Sri Lanka shut schools in the capital today to make way for thousands of soldiers brought into the city for a victory parade to mark the defeat of Tamil Tiger rebels, officials said today.

President Mahinda Rajapakse will preside over the military celebrations on Wednesday, when soldiers, heavy armour, gunboats and fighter jets will be put on display in the city, the Information Ministry said.

Schools in the city have been shut for three days with security in the tightly-guarded capital further stepped up.