By Xinhua
Colombo : A rebel’s defense line in the north western district of Mannar was captured by the Sri Lankan government troops in a battle with the Tamil Tigers, a military spokesman said on Sunday.
Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara, the military spokesman said the troops launched a 4-pronged offensive at the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) forward defense line at Mannar on Saturday.
“We attacked them from 4 different positions north of Yodawewa (giant tank) and Adampan. The LTTE fled the area as we kept on firing them”, Nanayakkara said.
He said that 36 rebels were killed and 56 others were injured in Mannar and another clash in the northern Vavuniya on Sunday. The Army lost 6 soldiers and 25 others were injured.
The fierce fighting in Mannar on Saturday is part of the military’s offensive to the LTTE’s last of the remaining strongholds in the north of the country.
More than 70,000 people have been killed in conflicts since mid 1980s.