The Sri Lankan government has categorically denied reports that its army has provided escort to a leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels to a destination in capital Colombo after his downfall by the main rebel group from the north,the official Daily News reported Friday.

The Defense Ministry said in a statement that Karuna has not requested the army for refuge, nor have the government forces undertaken any such movement as speculated in the local media.

"The Ministry of Defense wishes to state that none of the Security Forces are aware of the present whereabouts of Karuna andhis senior cadres," the statement said.

Karuna was driven out of areas under his control in the east on Monday after the north-based Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels launched an attack against him last Friday.

Karuna revolted against the LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaranearly March by defying his order for deployment of his fighters inthe north of the country.

Karuna was later expelled from the rebel rank by the rebel leadership for "acting traitorous" to the Tamil national cause.

The rebel offensive on Friday forced Karuna to flee, disbandingsome 6,000 fighters who had been under his command since the revolt began early March.

The once powerful Karuna was a member of the LTTE delegation which had six-round peace talks with the government led by formerPrime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe between September 2002 and March 2003.

Fighting between the rebels and the government stopped when Wickremesinghe entered the truce with the rebels in February 2002.