The elusive leader of Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tigers is not expected to surrender despite losing his de facto state and may instead try to flee by boat.

International rights groups pressed for urgent action to save up to 250 000 civilians trapped in northern Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s Tamil Tiger rebels struck back against a major government offensive on Wednesday with suicide attacks on merchant ships.

The expected fall of the Tamil Tigers’ capital would mark the separatists’ biggest loss in 13 years, but analysts say the conflict is far from over.