All   civilians trapped in No Fire Zone at Wellamullivaikkal have been rescued by the Sri Lankan troops, military spokesperson Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told www.news.lk a short while ago while remaining LTTE leaders are cornered to a small strip of land of  400x 600 metres.

He said troops have rescued over 50,000 civilians over the past72 hours.

Sri Lankan soldiers reached the concluding phase of world’s largest humanitarian operation this morning as they rescued over 36,000 civilians from the grip of the LTTE hold during past 24 hours, military sources said.

Accordingly, troops of the divisions 53, 58 and 59 have rescued the civilians the No Fire Zone.

Troops engaged in the final phase are now looking for sick and disabled people who may be left in the area as almost all others held hostage by the terrorists have been rescued.

Troops as part of humanitarian operations, has put in place a number of comprehensive evacuation measures to facilitate the fleeing civilians.