Sri Lankan troops overran three Tamil Tiger rebel bases this week, the defence ministry said Saturday after the guerrillas declared a five-year-old ceasefire all but dead. The ministry said security forces carried out a three-day operation around Friday’s truce anniversary in the eastern coastal district of Trincomalee where it accused the rebels of attacking troops and civilians. “During the past 72 hours the army, supported by artillery and mortars, successfully neutralised the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) build-up, including three LTTE bases in the Kumburuppiddi jungles. “Troops are still continuing their search and clearing operations to provide safety and security for the civilians and troops,” the ministry said in a statement. Residents in the Trincomalee district reported on Thursday that they heard heavy shelling.There was no immediate reaction from the LTTE, but the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said security forces had been shelling Tamil Tiger positions using heavy weapons. “In spite of the intensified attack by the Sri Lanka army, the Liberation Tigers avoided direct confrontation,” Tamilnet reported.