The Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam on Monday requested the Centre not to extend any military assistance to Sri Lanka [Images], saying it would be used against Tamils in the island nation and urged the government to stop the 'military onslaught' against the Tamils there.

MDMK chief Vaiko, in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images], said Tamils in Tamil Nadu and all over the world were 'terribly' concerned about the safety, security and normal life of the Tamil population in the island.

The recent talks between Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam and the Sri Lankan government did not yield fruitful results due to the 'intrasignent attitude' of that government, which had closed the national highway connecting Jaffna with Tamil areas there, affecting the movement of food supplies and medicines, he said.

The Centre should prevail upon the Sri Lanka government to open the highway immediately to save Tamils from death and starvation, he added.