( CNN ) -- The Sri Lankan army overran two Tamil Tiger rebel positions in the country 's north on Tuesday , the military reported on its Web site . Recently captured rebel weapons stacked up in the former Tamil stronghold of Kilinochchi . The rebels `` suffered double blows , losing two heavily fortified defense positions as ... troops made predawn incursions at identified terror strong points located south of Valayanmadam today , '' the Ministry of Defense said . The claims of military victories came a day after Sri Lanka ordered an end to combat operations against the rebels by curtailing `` the use of heavy-caliber guns , combat aircraft and aerial weapons which could cause civilian causalities , '' a statement from the Presidential Secretariat said . A rebel Web site , Tamilnet.com , reported an `` intense barrage of heavy weapons '' through Monday evening . The rebel site accused the military of staging a ground offensive , `` firing artillery shells fitted with cluster munitions , multi-barrel rocket launcher ( MBRL ) fire and heavy mortar fire from many directions on the northern side of Mu ' l'li-vaaykkaal . '' The Tiger leadership has asked the international community to `` pressure the Sri Lankan government to reciprocate '' on a cease-fire offer proposed last week . The United States , the United Nations , the European Union and India have called for a cease-fire . Last week , India 's foreign secretary and national security adviser met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa to express their concerns about the situation in the north , including casualties among civilians . India has a large Tamil population that sympathizes with the plight of Tamils in Sri Lanka . The foreign ministers of two nations are due in Sri Lanka on Wednesday -- David Miliband of the United Kingdom and Bernard Kouchner of France . Carl Bildt of Sweden was originally scheduled to make the trip with his counterparts , but was not granted a visa , so he was forced to cancel , the Swedish Foreign Ministry said Tuesday . In what amounts to a diplomatic protest , Sweden will recall its ambassador to Sri Lanka for consultations . A government-imposed deadline for the Tigers to surrender passed a week ago . Tens of thousands of displaced civilians currently remain wedged in a dwindling swath of territory controlled by the Tigers along the country 's northeastern coast . Government troops say they have rescued some 40,000 civilians trapped in the area , but a U.N. refugee agency said Friday that a wave of `` fresh displacement '' now exceeds 100,000 people . The Sri Lankan military says up to 20,000 civilians continue to be held hostage by Tamil `` terrorists , '' adding that its forces will continue humanitarian operations to rescue them . Fifty metric tons of relief supplies -- which landed in Colombo on Monday -- will be sent by UNICEF to the north to help displaced residents . UNICEF , which called the situation in the north a `` catastrophe for children , '' said the displaced lack food , water and basic medical supplies . The rebels estimate the number of civilians still in the territory at more than 160,000 . The Tigers have been fighting for an independent state in Sri Lanka 's northeast since 1983 . As many as 70,000 people have been killed since the civil war began , and the group has been declared a terrorist organization by 32 countries , including the United States and the European Union . -- CNN 's Sara Sidner contributed to this story .
Sri Lankan army Web site : Two heavily fortified military positions overrun . This came a day after Sri Lanka ordered end to combat operations . Sri Lanka : Army ordered to cease use of heavy - caliber guns , combat operations . Residents say fighter bombers continued to bomb civilian targets after that .