The Ceylon News

As the Sri Lankan army prepares to dislodge the Tamil Tigers from its stronghold in the embattled north of the country, the military said they were ready to inflict a "decisive blow" to the guerrillas.

A top minister earlier warned of "terrorist acts" by the desperate LTTE as the troops in Mullaitivu districts' Pudukudiyirippu battlefront stepped up assault in which at least 10 LTTE rebels were killed.

"According to information made available to us by the security forces they expect to enter the last phase during the next two weeks. Hence the next two weeks will be very decisive," said Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena, Minister of Mass Media and Information.

"Therefore we believe there is a possibility of terrorist acts intensifying in various parts of the south.

Thus citizens should be vigilant about the surrounding and their personal security,” he told reporters late last week.

Meanwhile, the LTTE sustained severe damages during confrontations with troops yesterday in Pudukudiyirippu area, said the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS), which is linked to the Lankan army.

During a subsequent search operation troops recovered 9 bodies of LTTE fighters killed in the clashes, the army said. Troops suffered minor damages in the clashes, the MCNS said.

Separately, Lankan troops of the Task Force-2 inflicted heavy damages on the LTTE during a confrontation in Pudukudiyirippu yesterday, the MCNS said, adding one body of LTTE cadre was recovered.

Meanwhile, the army strengthen the defences after gaining control over the Iranapalai general area, the Defence Ministry said.

Meanwhile, the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) in a report last week said that humanitarian conditions in the north-eastern war zone are deteriorating as thousands of civilians in safe areas are at risk of shelling and lack safe drinking water and sanitation.

The Sri Lanka Navy is providing safe passage for civilians trapped in the war zone, the defence ministry said. At least 494 civilians were evacuated on board "MV Green Ocean" yesterday. The evacuation of patients and civilians trapped in the LTTE areas in Mullaithivu is being carried out under the ICRC flag, it 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.

Confident that Sri Lankan troops will achieve bigger success in their battle against the LTTE, Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake has said there would be "more breaking news" on the war front soon as security forces killed 38 rebels in fierce fighting in the north.

"In a few days there will be more breaking news. Civilians are unfortunately getting trapped between the LTTE and security forces," Wickremanayake told a public rally on Saturday. The Lankan troops have recaptured most of the rebel-held territories in the north in recent months, taking over the LTTE de facto capital of Kilinochchi and establishing full control over Jaffna peninsula.

"I wish to state that terrorism will be eradicated from this country before long," the Prime Minister said. His comments came as Lankan troops pushed further to flush out the remaining LTTE cadres holed up in a small area in the northern conflict zone.

Military spokesman Udaya Nanayakkara said 10 Tiger rebels were killed in Pudukudiyirippu area on Saturday, while as many as 28 were gunned down by the troops on Sunday.

In another setback to the LTTE, "Sri Lankan security forces brought the important Iranapalai junction in the east of Pudukudiyirippu in Mullaittivu completely under their control yesterday," the Defence Ministry said.