The Ceylon News

Fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled northeast killed at least 47 LTTE guerrillas as the government stepped up attack to dislodge the cornered rebels from its last stronghold in the Mullaittivu battlefront, the army said on Saturday.

The army has won a string of major victories over the guerrillas in recent weeks, as it prepared to inflict a "decisive blow" to the guerrillas.

LTTE fighters, who are now confined to a mere 45 sq.km land stretch, are making desperate efforts to prolong its “imminent defeat”, the Lankan defence ministry said.

"The LTTE end game is reaching its final phase," the ministry said in a statement.

At least 47 LTTE cadres were killed and several others injured during separate confrontations between troops and LTTE in general area at Palamattalam, Tamarakulam and Puthukkudiyirippu at the Mullaittivu battlefront, the army said.

Troops linked to Task Force - 8 and 58 Division, which forged into the remaining LTTE territory, inflicted heavy damages to Tamil Tiger rebels and recovered 15 LTTE bodies and a cache of military hardware in Mullaittivu, it said.

In general area South of Palamattalam, the army made swift advances, killing 11 rebels and injuring a dozen others, the ministry quoted security sources as saying. Troops of operating in general area Tamaralankulam uncovered 14 LTTE bodies. During subsequent search operations, troops recovered the body of a guerrilla along a huge cache of arms, the army said.

Meanwhile, a total of 213 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) arrived at the army-held areas during the last two days, the military said.

“The exodus of 77 men 70 women, 37 boys and 29 girls reached the troops in the general areas of Munai in Jaffna besides Kokuvil, Chundikulam, Nalliyathannikeduval and Kevil in Mullaittivu, the army said.

Fighting, which has escalated in the past two years, further flared after the government in January 2008 pulled out of the 2002 cease-fire pact with the rebels.

The Tamil Tigers have been fighting since 1983 for an independent state for the minority ethnic Tamils, alleging marginalisation of the community for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalese. Over 70,000 people have been killed in the civil war in the Island nation.