Karuna writes to PM, Sonia as civilians exodus continues

Chennai/Colombo: As the Sri Lankan government's 24-hour deadline to LTTE chief Prabhakaran to surrender comes to an end on Tuesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi asked the Centre to issue an ultimatum to Colombo to declare an "immediate and permanent ceasefire."
In telegrams sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, he said the "war situation in Sri Lanka is alarming and the predicament of the Tamils very critical."
"All nations including the UN pressurises the Sri Lankan government to announce ceasefire immediately. I insist the Prime Minister, UPA Chairperson and External Affairs Minister give an ultimatum to the Sri Lankan government for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Sri Lanka and save lakhs of Tamils in Sri Lanka," he said in the telegram.
Karunanidhi's strong statement came as the Lankan government deadline for Prabhakaran and LTTE militants holed up in a small stretch of territory in the island's north is scheduled to end on Tuesday after which the island's army was expected to launch a final assault.
Meanwhile, Thousands of trapped Tamil civilians continue to flee Sri Lanka's war zone as the deadline for LTTE supremo V Prabhakaran and remnants of his group came close to running out.
Almost 40,000 civilians had come over to government controlled areas till late Monday, a Defence Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
The Sri Lankan authorities are reading in the mass exodus signs that Tigers may be on the verge of total collapse after waging a rebellion for 25 years.