Colombo:
As the number of trapped Tamil civilians crossing over to safer government-held zones nears hundred thousand mark, Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa is dispatching a special emissary to India to discuss the relief and rehabilitation measures for these people.
The President is sending his special advisor and brother Basil Rajapaksa to India to discuss the humanitarian situation, as leaders in Tamil Nadu are pressuring that India prevail upon the island nation to declare a ceasefire.
"Basil Rajapaksa will be leaving for India. But no dates have yet been finalised. The visit will be undertaken shortly," official sources said.
The sources said the talks will focus on the humanitarian situation in Sri Lanka in the backdrop of a sudden spurt in Tamil civilians escaping from the No Fire Zone to the government controlled areas.
Till last reports came, an estimated 82,000 people had crossed the battle lines in northern Sri Lanka to government held 'safe zones'. Overall Lankan authorities say that there are now more than 120,000 people in relief camps.
President Mahinda Rajapaksa has ordered officials to provide immediate assistance to the displaced Tamils.
The Sri Lankan government is expected to drive home the point that the war with LTTE is almost over with tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran and his commanders left with only a few sq kms near Pudukudiyirippu.
The Sri Lankan leader is also expected to seek Indian assistance in the challenging task of rehabilitating the Tamil civilians.
During Basil's previous visit, India as a gesture of goodwill, sent around 800 tonnes of relief material to Sri Lanka for the affected civilians in the North.