Tigers decalre ceasefire which government reject

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) declared a ceasefire on 26 April 2009. The LTTE issued a statement explaining that the ceasefire was called because of the humanitarian crisis facing Sri Lanka in the wake of heavy fighting between Tamil rebels and the military. The military closed in on Tamil forces on the northeastern coast, trapping thousands of civilians in the process. The LTTE has also faced growing international pressure from the United Nations, the European Union and a number of countries to end the fighting and allow aid groups into the region. On 27 April Sri Lankan government officials rejected the ceasefire, stating that the LTTE is nearing defeat. Soon after the statement was released, the Sri Lankan military launched another operation against Tamil troops. The Sri Lankan leaders later stated that their security forces will no longer be using heavy caliber weapons, aircraft or aerial weapons against the LTTE, which can mitigate the number of civilian casualties.