COLOMBO, March 28 (Xinhua) -- Sri Lanka Army's 55 division continuing its operations in the last rebel stronghold of Puthukkudiyiruppu in the northern Mullaittivu district has made further progress in the battle field and neared the no fire zone declared by the government to protect civilians, defense officials said Saturday.

    The troops operating in the south of Puthukkudiyiruppu had progressed a further 300 meters enabling them to locate themselves just 1.5 km away from the no fire zone in Puttumatalan area, the officials added.

    Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said the troops are consolidating in the areas already captured. Search operations had led to the discovery of large haul of weapons belonging to the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).

    The troops say the rebels have effectively been limited to just21 sq km of territory in Mullaittivu, with 20 sq km being the no fire zone.

    It is believed tens of thousands civilians are still being trapped in the conflict zone and the international community has called on both sides to refrain from attacking the civilians.

    The LTTE controlled over 15,000 sq km of territory when the government's military offensive began in 2006.

    The LTTE which sought to create a separate homeland for the minority Tamil community have faced a string of defeats for the first time since their separatist campaign began in the mid-1980s.

    More than 70,000 people have died in the conflict.