The Ceylon News

Sri Lankan security forces are close to finishing their final assault on the Tamil Tiger rebels by entering the separatists' last held town north of the country, according to a statement by defense ministry officials.

"Computers, computer accessories, switches, telephones which were believed to be used for international communication through satellite were also found from the scene," it added.

"As troops encircled the LTTE's last remaining stronghold, Puthukudiirippu, terrorists had to withdraw from the area leaving behind this high-tech satellite relaying machines used for international communication," military officials said.

The ministry said that at least 13 rebel fighters were killed in the fighting, but did not disclose details on casualties, if any, suffered by the Sri Lankan security troops.

Meanwhile, the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) are reportedly prepared for a ceasefire with the Sri Lankan government as indicated in the rebels' letter to the United Nations on Monday..

"We are ready to discuss, cooperate, and work together in all their efforts to bring an immediate ceasefire and work towards a political settlement," Tigers' political chief Balasingham Nadesan wrote in the letter, according to Press TV.

The LTTE, which is considered a terrorist organization by the U.S., the European Union and India, has been fighting for a separate Tamil homeland.

The rebels have fighting for an independent state for Sri Lanka's Tamil minority since 1983 and the insurgency has killed at least 70,000 people.

Over the last few weeks, more than 50,000 Sri Lankan troops have been combing through a 67-square-mile (175-square-kilometer) sliver of jungle in the northeast region killing many guerrillas.

U.N. humanitarian chief John Holmes has indicated that the people held captive by the LTTE remains a major concern.

According to him, the civilians face "very great danger" from fighting between the Sri Lankan government forces and the LTTE rebels and there is "strong evidence the LTTE is preventing them from leaving."

Recently, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said that the fierce clashes between the two sides in northern Sri Lanka have caused a massive displacement of civilians and the affected areas may take multiple years to rebuild.