Sri Lanka ? Sri Lanka’s prime minister rejected calls for a cease-fire Thursday from donor countries worried by reports of growing civilian casualties in the South Asian nation’s civil war, instead demanding the Tamil Tiger rebels’ unconditional surrender.

Sri Lankan forces captured the rebels’ biggest sea base, effectively cutting off their supply point and pushing them to the brink of defeat.

“No force can stop this operation. Government forces have already achieved significant victories against the terrorists,” Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake told Parliament.

He said the government will only accept an unconditional surrender by the Tamil Tigers, who are facing defeat after a fruitless 25-year war for a separate Tamil homeland.

“We are ready to accept anyone who will embrace democracy by giving up arms,” he said.