Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse has sent a tough message to the Tamil Tiger rebels in outlining his new counter terrorism laws.

Recalling the attacks against the government troops by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels over the last one year, Rajapakse vowed tough measures against the rebels when addressing the nation here Wednesday night.

"These regulations will only defeat the fascist thinking of the LTTE," the president said, adding that he was duty bound to curb the rebel terror acts.

Rajapakse proclaimed new anti-terror laws following a public outcry to ban the LTTE with last week's failed attempt by the rebels to kill his brother Gotab haya Rajapakse, who is the top civil servant at the defense ministry.

"I ask you not to belittle this decision as one taken in view of the failed attempt by the LTTE on my brother," the president stressed.

Rajapakse said the rebels had killed around 140 soldiers and policemen since last December in totally unprovoked attacks.

He urged the international community to note the fact that the attempt on his brother came almost immediately after the LTTE leader Velupillai Prabakaran had vowed to resume his organization's freedom struggle.

He said for the first time in the separatist conflict the island had defined terrorism in its new laws and anyone flouting them will face severe consequences.

The president asked all political parties, all media, and all organizations to "decide whether you should be with a handful of terrorists or with the common man who is in the majority."

"You must clearly choose between these two sides. No one can represent both these sides at any one time," the president said.

Rajapakse said protecting national security was the prime aim of his government and he would not allow the division of the island.