Colombo- Government troops Thursday thrust further into the last areas held by Tamil rebels on Sri Lanka's north-eastern coast, military officials said, as the United Nations Security Council called on the rebels to surrender.

More than 2,000 civilians escaped from the Puthmathalan area, 390 kilometres north-east of the capital Colombo, Thursday morning, putting the total number of civilians who fled the area since Monday to 102,790.

New York  - The United Nations Security Council met Wednesday to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka, where more than 100,000 refugees have fled rebel-held areas.

The informal meeting was requested by France, the country's UN Ambassador Jean-Maurice Ripert told reporters. He said he had no doubt that the 15-nation Security Council will arrive at a consensus to call for a truce or a ceasefire.

Colombo - Refugees streamed out of the shrinking Tamil rebel-held areas again Wednesday as government troops tightened a cordon around the zone in north-eastern Sri Lanka, military spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said.

Rambukwella told journalists that 81,420 civilian refugees had been counted since Monday in the Puthumathalan area, about 390 kilometres north-east of the capital, and the exodus was continuing.

Colombo, Apr. 22 : Two top leaders of the rebel Liberation Tigers of the Tamil Ealam (LTTE) have surrendered before the Sri Lanka Army in Puthumathalam.

According to a Times Now report, Daya Master and George surrendered before officers of the 58th Division of the Sri Lankan Army.

Daya Master and George were part of the LTTE supreme V. Prabhakaran’s inner circle, and were key spokesmen of the rebel outfit.

New Delhi, Apr 22 : Pushing forward his demand for an immediate ceasefire in Sri Lanka, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has called for a 12-hour strike in Chennai on Thursday.

Late on Tuesday night, Karunanidhi issued a final appeal and asked all Tamils, irrespective of their political affiliations, to join the strike.

He justified his decision saying that besides asking the Centre to demand a permanent ceasefire, the strike was also for sympathising with the plight of Tamils in that country.

Colombo, Apr. 21: Though there are no comments on the pro-rebel Web site that the movement uses to issue its statements, official communiqués and news reports, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Tuesday said that it would not surrender to the Sri Lanka armed forces, and added that their leader V. Prabhakaran was still alive and directing the counter-offensive in Puthumattalam despite an army noon deadline for surrender.

“We will never surrender and will fight till we can. The international community must intervene in the issue,” a statement reportedly issued by the rebel outfit said.