The Ceylon News

At least 41 LTTE cadres were killed, 34 of them in a fierce clash in Mullaittivu, as the advancing Sri Lankan Army thwarted a major rebel infiltration bid on their defence lines.

"As many as 34 LTTE cadres in an armour-plated lorry were approaching the Security Forces Forward Defence Line (FDL) at high speed when the troops assisted by armour tank fire destroyed the vehicle killing all the terrorists inside," the army said in a statement.

The incident occurred in south of Puthukudirippu area in Mullaittivu, the army said.

During subsequent search, troops found 34 dead bodies of the LTTE cadres along with their weapons, it said. Meanwhile, six LTTE cadres were killed when two sea Tiger boats were destroyed at an area 10 km north east of Mullativu this morning, the army said.

In Ramanathapuram and Visuamadu areas in Mullaitivu, troops further stepped into the LTTE hiding areas in order to consolidate their defences, the Defence Ministry said.

The army claimed to have engaged in a rescue mission to open a safe passage to facilitate the escape of Tamil civilians trapped in the rebel-held areas.

Separately, infantrymen also found weapons and claymore mines left behind by LTTE cadres in Visuamadu, where a body of a Tiger rebel was also found, the army said. A search operation by infantrymen also found 26 hand grenades in Ramanathapuram, while troops of the 12 Sri Lanka Sinha Regiment found dry ration stores and 35 barrels of oil containing 7,350 litres of diesel in Visuamadu, the army said.

One T-56 weapon, five claymore mines, two anti-aircraft gun barrels and two empty thermobaric weapons were among the items recovered.

At Mullaittivu, the LTTE cadres suffered heavy damages in confrontations with troops in Pudukudirippu and Kuruvikulam areas yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said. In East Visuamadu as well, the rebels suffered losses during fierce fighting, it said.

Some soldiers conducting operations in the Visuamadu area were also injured in an anti-personal mine explosion yesterday, the MCNS said. An LTTE mortar launching position consisting of one 81mm mortar and one 60 mm mortar was also recovered, it said.