By KUNA,
New Delhi : The Sri Lankan Air Force Wednesday destroyed a Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) training base in the rebel-controlled Wanni region.
The training base of the LTTE suicide cadre, known as the Black Tigers, at Iranaimadu Thiruvaiaru was destroyed in the air raid carried out this morning, Sri Lankan Defence Ministry said in a statement at Colombo.
“Intelligence sources said the targeted Black Tiger camp was being operated under the guidance of the LTTE’s intelligence wing leader Pottu Amman. The target was obtained after receiving information that suicide bombers were active in the camp,” the statement added.
LTTE is yet to react to this air raid.
Meanwhile in ground clashes, at least 19 LTTE rebels and four government soldiers were killed in the Vavuniya and Mannar regions Tuesday, Sri Lanka’s Media Centre for National Security said in a statement at Colombo today.
These attacks have taken place at a time when Colombo is hosting the 15th Summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Heads of state and governments of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka will meet for SAARC summit on August 2-3.
The US, Japan, China, South Korea, Iran, Mauritius and the European Union will participate at the summit as observers. Australia and Myanmar are also seeking observer status.
The LTTE had announced a 10-day unilateral ceasefire for the SAARC summit, but the Sri Lankan government had rejected the offer.