NEW DELHI, April 17: India today asked the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to allow civilians trapped in the so-called No Fire Zone (NFZ) to leave the area to secure locations, and requested the Sri Lankan government to extend the two-day ceasefire so that civilians can move out of the tiny NFZ to safe places.

In a statement here today, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said: "India is deeply concerned about the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka. The continuing conflict has taken a heavy toll on Tamil civilians and internally displaced persons caught in the cross fire.

"The Government of India has repeatedly expressed its concern for their security and sought to ensure safe passage to secure zones for the civilian population."

He said India had welcomed the announcement by Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa of a cessation of hostilities for the Tamil and Sinhala New Year over the last two days.

"The Government of Sri Lanka must extend this pause in hostilities to prevent further casualties and enable trapped civilians to leave the area to secure locations.

Continuation of precipitate military actions leading to further civilian casualties at this time would be totally unacceptable."

Mukherjee went on: "While it is incumbent on the LTTE to release all civilians and IDPs under their control, the Government of Sri Lanka cannot be oblivious to the evolving human tragedy and the fate of the Tamil civilian population caught up in the so-called No Fire Zone. There is no reason not to continue with the pause in military actions in the NFZ."

The Government of India have extended humanitarian assistance, including medicines, food and other supplies, to the civilian population trapped in the conflict zone. A 62-member emergency medical unit from India has treated more than 1500 serious medical cases among civilians in Pulmoddai in Sri Lanka.

"We will soon send another consignment of 40,000 family packs to the affected civilians in Northern Sri Lanka," the minister announced.