COLOMBO, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The Sri Lankan government said Wednesday it was urging international community to put pressure on the Tamil Tiger rebels to allow civilians to leave the conflict zones for safety.

　　A government release said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had hindered thousands of families from moving to safer areas by imposing a strict pass system, and in some instances, forcing some family members to stay behind to ensure the return of the rest of the family.

　　The rebels came to be criticized by the international rights watch group, the Amnesty International, for its refusal to allow civilians to flee to safety.

　　The government said the troops are on the verge of reaching the last two rebel strongholds of Kilinochchi and Mullaithivu in their current military thrust against the rebels.

　　The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said last week that large scale displacements were happening due to the military action.

　　The government assured that it is committed to providing humanitarian assistance to the displaced with adequate food and water.