Agencies
Colombo, Apr 27: United Nations humaitarian chief John Holmes asked the Sri Lankan government on Sunday to halt its military offensive against the LTTE in order to allow aid workers to help civilians trapped in the 'no-fire zone'.
Foreign secretary Palitha Kohona said the ceasefire offer was a trick played by the LTTE to "deceive" the world.
"It is a cynical effort on the part of LTTE to exploit the visit of under secretary of UN John Holmes to Sri Lanka. LTTE is down on its knees and has nothing to bargain with," he said.
Earlier in the day, troops recovered the birth certificate, horoscope and albums of Prabhakaran and his son Charles Antony in the war zone. The LTTE chief had reportedly buried these documents before he fled from his residence in Pudukudiyiruppu east.
Meanwhile, 23 Tamil Tigers manning the LTTE's defence line deserted the group and surrendered to the army.