COLOMBO, Feb 20: Sri Lanka on Friday welcomed Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement in parliament saying that the LTTE should immediately release all civilians trapped in the war-zone and lay down arms.

“We are very grateful to the Government of India for conveying its stand to the Lok Sabha, and through it, to the Indian public and the world at large,” Sri Lanka’s minister for Human Rights and Disaster Management Mahinda Samarasinghe told the media in a briefing on the humanitarian situation in the war-zone.

The Sri Lankan minister lauded the Indian government’s acceptance of Colombo’s estimate that there were only 70,000 civilians in the conflict zone, and that the LTTE was shooting at fleeing civilians.

“We appreciate the Indian Foreign Minister’s clear, categorical and strong statement. The Government of India understands that the Sri Lankan government is not fighting civilians but LTTE terrorists. Mr Mukherjee’s statement reflects the excellent relations existing between Sri Lanka and India,” Samarasinghe said.

“On our part we will keep India informed of all developments relating to the civilians,” he added.