Colombo:
At least 16 LTTE rebels were killed in clashes with the Army in the restive Northern Sri Lanka amidst Air Force attack on a rebel base to support the ground forces, official said on Monday.
",Sri Lanka Air Force MI-24 helicopter gun ships today launched a close air support mission for advancing troops on the Mannar front this morning targeting a gathering of LTTE cadres in the Andankulam area,", the Defence Ministry said.
Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Andrew Wjesooriya air sorties were carried out on Sunday morning as Sri Lanka army reported a fresh enemy gathering at the tactical operation centre located three km north of the army's present defence line.
The exact damage is yet to be ascertained, he said.
In ground clashes, troops killed one LTTE cadre in Murunkan North and another in Devulkandan in North-western Mannar on Saturday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
Separately, the Army gunned down one tiger rebel at Vediyamurippu and another in Parayakulam in Mannar on Saturday, it said.
In another clash, the Army said it killed one tiger rebel in Uyilankulam in Mannar and one each in Vediyamurippu and Parayakulam respectively.