COLOMBO, Aug 3: The Sri Lankan government on Thursday rejected peace facilitator Norway’s call for an end to the current hostilities in north-eastern Sri Lanka claiming it was waging a ‘humanitarian operation’.

Government spokesperson Keheliye Rambukwella told journalists on Thursday that the government’s war was to release a water blockade by the LTTE, severely affecting 15,000 families of small farmers cultivating 30,000 acres of paddy land.

“We are not conducting a military operation but a humanitarian one. We are determined to attain the objective of reopening the sluice gates,” he said addressing a press conference in Colombo.

Rambukwella said the government will stop its military offensive if the LTTE opens the gates of the reservoir.

On July 20, the LTTE closed the sluice gates of the Mavil Aaru dam in the Trincomalee district depriving water to civilians in government held areas of the district. At least 30 soldiers and over 100 LTTE cadres have been killed since the government launched its operation.