Fighting between government troops and Tamil rebels continued in the northern part of the country Monday, a day after government forces captured the last remaining major town held by Tamil rebels.
The military reported heavy clashes in the Pudukudirrippu area, 380 kilometres north-east of the capital, as troops consolidated positions in the coastal town of Mullaitivu, which the army captured on Sunday.
As the fighting intensified to recapture the last few areas held by the rebels, tens of thousands of civilians still remained in the rebel-held areas and only a few of them have come out of the areas during the past few days, according to aid agencies helping the displaced persons, reported dpa.
Aid agencies said they estimated that some 230,000 civilians remain in rebel-controlled areas, but Army Commander Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka on Sunday said he estimated the figure to be around 150,000.
The army commander said rebels of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are now restricted to an area of 300 square kilometers.
The remaining civilians are restricted to the same rebel-held areas.
The government has offered a safe zone for the civilians to move into, but there were no immediate reports about the response to the government appeal.
The pro-Tamil rebel website claimed over 100 civilians have been killed and "hundreds" injured in the latest fighting, a claim denied by the army.
Civilians fleeing the rebel-controlled areas confirmed to journalists that Tamil rebels did not want them to leave the rebel-held areas.
Local UN aid workers also have been making efforts to get their families out of the rebel-controlled areas, but they have been prevented from doing so.
Earlier UNICEF also called on the rebels to allow civilians to leave the areas under their control.
"While every effort must be made by the government and the LTTE to avoid any civilian casualties, the best thing for these people is that the LTTE allows them to move freely and enter a safe area where they can receive appropriate support," UNICEF Representative in Sri Lanka Philippe Duamelle said.
Government troops launched their offensive operations in northern and eastern parts of Sri Lanka in August 2006 and have reached the final phase of the offensive aimed at ending the country's quarter- century-long conflict. Tamil rebels have been fighting for an independent homeland for minority Tamils in the northern and eastern provinces.
The military estimates that more than 12,000 Tamil rebels and 3,500 soldiers have been killed since August 2006, but there is no independent confirmation of the figures.