Colombo  - President Mahinda Rajapaksa renewed his call for Tamil rebels to lay down weapons and enter the political mainstream after government troops captured a key coastal town in northern Sri Lanka Saturday.

"Our troops have made a significant victory. Even at this moment I call the LTTE (Tamil rebel) leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to surrender and come for negotiations," Rajapaksa said in a nationwide address after the army announced it had taken control of Pooneryn, 360 kilometres north of the capital.

New Delhi, Nov. 13 : Visiting Sri Lankan President Mahindra Rajapakse today said that there was no question of ordering a cease-fire against the rebel Liberation Tigers for Tamil Ealam (LTTE), and added that his government would take all necessary steps to protect Tamils in Sri Lanka.

"Tamilians are our people; we have been taking care of them and we will take care," Rajapakse said.

Rajpakse told reporters in Delhi: "Since the last twenty years, we are witnessing this ceasefire. We will not allow terrorism to continue."

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Tuesday said that his Govt. is taking all possible steps for well being of displaced Tamils in the country. The primary responsibility of a Govt. is to look after all its citizens and I carry out this responsibility to the fullest.

He said that a wrong impression had been carried in Tamilnadu relating to this matter. This is far from the truth. They are our citizens and we take every measure to look after and provide for them.

Talking to media persons in his office the President maintained that - the friendly relations between Sri Lanka and India remained very strong and New Delhi had always helped us when necessary and supported us at every step.

Colombo - Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa called on voters to endorse his ongoing military campaign against Tamil rebels ahead of a crucial provincial poll on Saturday.

Rajapaksa's comments came hours before campaigning for Saturday's election in two of Sri Lanka's nine provinces was due to end Wednesday night in keeping with local election laws.