Colombo - The Sri Lankan army on Tuesday captured more territory from the Tamil Tigers ahead of the expiry of a government deadline for the rebels to surrender, the defence ministry said.
Advancing government troops have effectively cut the last remaining strip of Tiger territory in the northeast of the island in half, the ministry said.
"The Sri Lanka army's 58th division soldiers on Tuesday morning entered into (the) areas of Putumathalan and Amapalavanpokkanai in the no-fire zone," the ministry said in a statement.
The defence ministry has given Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran and his fighters until 06.30GMT on Tuesday to surrender.