Colombo:
Sri Lankan Naval forces foiled a Sea Tiger attack and sank two rebel boats killing 14 militants on Saturday, whereas the advancing army moved deeper into the LTTE-held territory and captured an embankment after fierce clashes that left 66 Tamil Tigers dead in the embattled north.
"At least 80 Tiger rebels, including 14 sea Tigers, were killed as troops advanced forward to capture the remaining Tiger held areas around the 'No-Fire-Zone'," the Defence Ministry said on Saturday.
In ground operations, the Army broke into LTTE's mud embankment in Karayamulliavaikkal in Mullaitivu amid stiff resistance from the rebels, 35 of whom were found dead following the operation.
Another 31 LTTE cadres were killed during clashes at Wellamullavaikkal, the military said.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan Navy destroyed two LTTE attack boats and captured two others in seas off Wellamullavaikkal in Mullaitivu. All 14 Sea Tigers who were on board were killed, the Navy said.
The Navy destroyed one LTTE sea Tiger suicide boat and another sea vessel after the Tiger rebels attacked a "well-fortified" naval cordon in the seas off Mullaitivu this morning, the Navy said, adding it has captured another LTTE suicide boat with an attack craft.
Two bodies of sea Tiger cadres, including a female rebel, were also recovered in the pre-dawn gun battle between the rebels and the troops.
A cluster of sea Tiger boats, two of them were laden with high explosives, along with another two sea crafts, were intercepted and attacked, the Sri Lankan Navy said.
In ground clashes on Friday infantrymen of 58 Division gained total control over the entire earth bund built by the LTTE in Karayamulliavaikkal in Mullaitivu following hours-long fighting, the Defence Ministry said.
According to defence reports, troops tactically advanced beyond the earth bund after capturing and consolidated operations now underway to further strength the defence line, the ministry said.
Fierce fighting lasted for days as LTTE made their fullest strength to hold the earth bund built to resists the security forces' offensive march, military sources added.
Troops were able to inflict considerable damages to the enemy in fighting occurred last two days while capturing part of the earth bund.
In subsequent search operation conducted in Karayamulliavaikkal area, troops have found 35 bodies of LTTE rebels killed in fighting along with LTTE military hardware, the Defence Ministry said.