Colombo - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Sunday ordered security forces engaged in military operations in the northern part of the country to restrict offensive operations to enable civilians in rebel held areas to mark the traditional new year. The directive came a day before the traditional new year, which is celebrated by the minority Hindu Tamils as well as the majority Sinhala Buddhist community.

It would, however, apply only to those troops that have encircled the last rebel held area of less than 20 square kilometres located in the Mullaitivu district, 395 kilometres north east of the capital Colombo.

Some 50,000 civilians are believed to be trapped in the area under the control of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

A statement from the president's office said Rajapaksa was deeply conscious of the need to give the civilian population the opportunity to celebrate festivities.

Armed Forces to restrict their operations to keep restict operations to those of a defensive nature.

Sri Lanka's military has said it is in the final phase of crushing the rebels who have been fighting for an independent homeland for minority Tamils in north and eastern parts of the country for the last 26 years.

The military operations to recapture rebel held areas in these areas were launched in August 2006. Security forces have since recaptured vast areas.

More than 65,000 civilians have moved from rebel held to government controlled areas since January.

Tamil rebels claim more than 3,000 civilians have been killed in the attempt by the government to recapture rebel held areas, but the government denies that civilian casualty figures are high. (dpa)