By Prensa Latina,
Colombo : Despites massive casualties this week in clashes with the Tamil Tigers, the Sri Lanka government reiterated Friday it will continue with its offensive until wiping out separatist rebels in the north of the country.
The Defense Ministry said at the very beginning that 43 soldiers died and 33 others disappeared after Wednesday’s bloody combats when the government troops tried to move forward to Muhamalai northern locality.
Nevertheless, military sources cited by Daily News newspaper reported Friday the mortal casualties add up to 165 and other 20 missing.
In fact, it was the bloodiest day of the month with 250 deaths and hundreds of wounded between soldiers and members of the Tamil Eelam Liberation Tigers (TELT).
Lankanews media reported TELT turned in 28 soldier bodies to the International Red Cross .
The Defense Ministry spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said: ó We have recovered the eastern province this year and free Tamil population from terrorism and we will do the same with the northern population soon.
At this moment, the Eastern province is getting ready for elections to elect the local government as part of the executive’s plan to transfer powers to regional authorities.