Colombo: At least 52 LTTE militants have been killed in gunbattles between security forces and the rebels in Sri Lanka's embattled north, where the army captured a portion of the rebel-held Thampane area.
Elsewhere two civilians also lost their lives in attacks by suspected Tiger rebels, the army said on Tuesday.
"We on Monday night moved in about one km inside Thampane and one of the camps — which was taken control of — could accommodate 300 LTTE militants," a ministry spokesman said.
In two other areas of Thampane, the troops moved in about 300 metres and 500 metres respectively, the spokesman said, adding this was the fourth major success for army during the last few days.
Last week, the army said it had captured a key LTTE post named 'Vitenam Base', hours after taking control of two defence lines in the region.
Delayed reports on Tuesday said that during the capture of Uyilanakulam LTTE entry-exit point on Saturday at least 22 militants were killed. The army said: "This information has been confirmed through intercepted LTTE communication."
Five rebels were killed on Tuesday when troops confronted a group of tiger militants in Vilatikulam in Northern Vavuniya.
In Kallikulam, troops confronted a group of tigersand killed three rebels, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
Two soldiers sustained injuries in an Anti Personal Mine explosion in Periyathampanai in Vavuniya on Tuesday evening, it said.
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