This was in addition to the 105,000 civilians who had already come to freedom and safety from the grip of the LTTE from the early hours of Monday April 20.

Together with more than 65,000 who had already fled the LTTER area till last weekend, this brings the total number of civilians now in the Safe Zone of the government in the North East of Sri Lanka to be in excess of 170,000.

There are ports o more civilians moving by boat to the safety of other government held areas at Pointy Pedro and Pulmoddai.

The Government chartered vessel Green Ocean transported 353 injured and sick persons from the NFZ for medical treatment at Trincomalee. This is first movement of injured and those needing medical from the NFZ since the surge of civilians began April 20. These persons are included in the total number now freed from the LTTE.

Government has stepped up relief supplies including food, medicines and other essential items to meet the needs of the large number of civilians surging in to the Safe Zone. Public Officials have been alerted under instructions from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to take all necessary steps to serve the needs of these people, as well as others who continue to come over from the LTTE held area.

It has also called on the international community to provide assistance to ease the conditions of this large influx of people who have escaped from the LTTE after being held hostage and being used as a human shield by it for a long period.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa earlier this week told British Prime Minister Gordon Brown there was no necessity for a pause a military action as requested by the British leader, in view of this exodus of civilians from the hold of the LTTE.