New Delhi, Jan 27 : External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee will visit Sri Lanka today where the military claims to have captured the last LTTE bastion of Mullaittivu.

During the two-day visit, Mukherjee will meet Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa and Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and to press for early implementation of the devolution package to ensure that the ethnic Tamils get rights and privileges at par with others.

His visit comes in the backdrop of strong demands by the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and some other parties from the state that the External Affairs Minister should visit Sri Lanka and prevail upon Rajapaksa government to go for ceasefire.

Mukherjee''s visit assumes significance in the wake of President Rajapaksa extending an invitation to both Karunanidhi and AIADMK Chief Jayalalitha to visit Sri Lanka.

According to sources, Rajapaksa said that his government is ready to provide safe corridors for the civilians to go through the army controlled areas to safer places, but it is up to the LTTE to release the civilians.

Rajapaksa put the number of Tamils held by the LTTE between 150 and 200 thousands. (ANI)