Colombo: With UN estimates indicating that nearly 50,000 people were still trapped in the narrow stretch of land under LTTE control, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has said his government's priority was to rescue all innocents civilians from Tiger "stranglehold".
Rajapaksa claimed that international observers coming to monitor the condition of the displaced people, have gone back satisfied after getting a first hand account.
"International representatives who come here with a charge sheet against the government regarding civilians fleeing LTTE clutches go back fully satisfied," he said.
The President was addressing a gathering here after receiving donations worth SLRs 25 million by institutions for distribution among displaced civilians.
Rajapaksa said his government's priority was to rescue all innocent civilians from LTTE "stranglehold" and those still trapped in the No Fire Zone would also be rescued soon.
A presidential statement said the donated goods would be distributed among civilians housed in welfare camps in the North on May 9. The government, meanwhile, said it plans to resettle over 80 per cent of the displaced families this year.
The Ministry of Nation Building said the government has set up a presidential task force to provide facilities to nearly 200,000 civilians housed in relief centres.
Meanwhile, the Italian government has donated Euros 400 to the UN World Food Programme as urgent humanitarian aid for the affected people in Sri Lanka.