Colombo: The Sri Lankan Army claims to have captured a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) base in the Killinochchi.
Army sources said a complex of bunkers, a base hospital and civil buildings fell after three days of bitter fighting. The army said most of the LTTE cadres killed or captured comprised minors or teenagers. Troops are now reported to be knocking at the LTTE's forward defence lines in Mullaitivu to the east.
Official on Friday also said at least seven LTTE cadres were killed in fierce clashes in northern Sri Lanka where government helicopter gunships and fighter jets pounded rebel bases to support the advancing ground troops.
Troops of the newly formed military formation, Task Force 3, advancing from northwest of Mankulam in Kilinochchi towards A-9 main road dominating LTTE areas, confronted tiger rebels, causing heavy damage to the enemy on Thursday, the Defence Ministry said.
According to the sources, hours of fighting ensued in general area Panikkankulam leaving scores of "terror cadres killed" and many others injured, it said in a statement.
By intercepting terror communication, it is learnt that many terror cadres have gone missing during the confrontation, the ministry said.
In a subsequent search operation conducted in the area, troops found seven bodies of LTTE cadres killed during the intense battle, it said adding one GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun), five T-56 riffles and one T-81 riffle were also found in the search operation.
Troops are continuing their march towards Mankulam with effective military thrust on LTTE, the military said.
Meanwhile, Air Force MI-24 helicopter gunships launched air sorties targeting LTTE resistance point observed in north of Nachchikuda Forward Defence Line (FDL) in Kilinochchi last evening, the air force said.
The rebel resistance point is located 1.2 Km north off security forces' defence line in Nachchikuda, Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.
Air sorties were launched around in support of ground troops of Task Force 1 advancing along the A-32 road towards Pooneryn, the spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets hit an LTTE leaders' command center in Paranthan, Kilinochchi on Thursday, Nanayakkara said adding the target was engaged accurately.
Suspected LTTE gunmen, meanwhile killed two civil security personnel and a policeman who were providing security to paddy farmers at Kohilaela area, Ampitiya in the Eastern Ampara District on Friday, the Defence Ministry said.
The rebels opened indiscriminate gun fire at the security personnel and fled the area, security sources said.
A Civil Security Force guard also received injuries and was admitted to the Mahaoya Hospital, Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) sources said.
Police Special Task Force (STF) troopers are now deployed in the area and on pursuit of the assailants, it said.
Meanwhile, troops of the 59 Division uncovered 120 anti-personnel mines during separate clearance operations conducted in general area Andankulam in Mullaittiuvu on Thursday.
LTTE cadres also suffered considerable damages during confrontations in Kotkallivilly, Sempankundu, Vilakkavittakulam and Meniyanyakulam in Kilinochchi on Thursday, the MCNS said.
"Sri Lankan Army troops also inflicted severe damages to the LTTE in three different confrontations in Akkarayankulam area between afternoon and evening yesterday," it said.
Several LTTE bunkers, some trenches and an earth bund constructed in Vempathukerny and Nagarkovil in Jaffna were attacked by the troops causing severe damages to the the tiger rebels on Thursday , the MCNS said.
(With inputs from PTI)
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