Sri Lanka's military said soldiers killed a commander of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam as the army fought on three fronts in the Jaffna area, the last region controlled by the Tamil Tigers. The LTTE commander was killed in Thendamarachchi south of Jaffna yesterday, the army said on its Web site. Troops advanced on rebel positions during clashes yesterday in Mannar, Vavuniya and Welioya, the Defense Ministry said in a statement.
LTTE forces drove off soldiers trying to overrun bases in the Manalaaru Ceylon areas yesterday, TamilNet reported on its Web site, citing unidentified Tamil Tiger officials.
Sri Lanka's army has stepped up its attacks since capturing the eastern region in July, leaving the LTTE in control only of bases in the north to continue its 25-year fight for a separate homeland. The government last week formally ended a 2002 cease- fire with the rebels after President Mahinda Rajapaksa said in November that terrorism will be eradicated in the country.
The LTTE is ``in total disarray'' as a result of the offensives, Lieutenant General Sarath Fonseka, the army chief, said Dec. 31. At least 22 rebels were killed in fighting Jan. 19, the military said yesterday.
Sri Lanka's military has targeted the LTTE leadership in the north since capturing the east. Velupillai Prabhakaran, the LTTE leader, was wounded in an air raid in November, according to the government, and the head of the political wing was killed two months ago. The group's military intelligence chief was killed Jan. 6.