AFP image
Colombo:
As the government mulls a general amnesty to the surrendering Tamil Tigers, the Lankan army expressed confidence that it would get Velupillai Prabhakaran, saying the LTTE supremo was hiding in the 'No-Fire-Zone' (NFZ) along with his top commanders.
Prabhakaran and other top LTTE leaders are hiding in the 'No-Fire-Zone', the army said, adding it had killed 55 rebels in intense clashes as the military pushed deeper into remaining rebel-held territory.
The security forces are hopeful the LTTE leader and his top cadres can be targeted without much difficulty in the coming days, according to an army official of the 58th Division.
According to another top defence official, there is reliable information that the LTTE leader and his group are still there in the NFZ.
It will be impossible for the "terrorist" leader (Prabhakaran) to escape in the guise of a civilian or as a patient, the official underlined. He said the remaining LTTE rebels had only two options either to surrender to the security forces or face death. Prabhakaran has vowed never to be caught alive by the Lankan security forces.
"Troops continued to consolidate their positions and countered heavy LTTE resistance during their advance further towards the area where Tamil Tiger leaders are confirmed to be hiding in the 'No Fire Zone' (NFZ)," the army said.
As the Lankan military prepares to inflict a decisive blow to the LTTE, troops took control of a fortified embankment near the NFZ as it killed 25 LTTE rebels, an official said.
He said the troops are marching towards LTTE-held territory in NFZ from the East of the A-35 road. The army also captured a 500 metre-long fortified embankment South of A-35 road junction and North of Nanthikadal Lagoon in Mullaittivu on Sunday.
Lankan troops conducting security surveillance in the east also recovered large quantity of weapons from Thihalaveddi area in Eastern Batticaloa.
The military said the LTTE has driven the civilians further South of the 'No-Fire-Zone' in the face of advancing troops. Ground reports said at least 25-30 LTTE cadres were suspected to be killed during intermittent clashes.
Few Lankan soldiers, who have sustained injuries in the fighting around west of Vellamullavaikkal, were evacuated for medical treatment, the army said in a statement.
Amid global concerns for the tens of thousands of civilians trapped in the war zone, a senior defence official said the security forces have received clear instructions from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to step up humanitarian operations in the North to take care of the civilians, who have escaped from the LTTE-controlled areas.
Prabhakaran and other top LTTE leaders are hiding in the 'No-Fire-Zone', the army said, adding it had killed 55 rebels in intense clashes as the military pushed deeper into remaining rebel-held territory.
The security forces are hopeful the LTTE leader and his top cadres can be targeted without much difficulty in the coming days, according to an army official of the 58th Division.
According to another top defence official, there is reliable information that the LTTE leader and his group are still there in the NFZ.
It will be impossible for the "terrorist" leader (Prabhakaran) to escape in the guise of a civilian or as a patient, the official underlined. He said the remaining LTTE rebels had only two options either to surrender to the security forces or face death. Prabhakaran has vowed never to be caught alive by the Lankan security forces.
"Troops continued to consolidate their positions and countered heavy LTTE resistance during their advance further towards the area where Tamil Tiger leaders are confirmed to be hiding in the 'No Fire Zone' (NFZ)," the army said.
As the Lankan military prepares to inflict a decisive blow to the LTTE, troops took control of a fortified embankment near the NFZ as it killed 25 LTTE rebels, an official said.
He said the troops are marching towards LTTE-held territory in NFZ from the East of the A-35 road. The army also captured a 500 metre-long fortified embankment South of A-35 road junction and North of Nanthikadal Lagoon in Mullaittivu on Sunday.
Lankan troops conducting security surveillance in the east also recovered large quantity of weapons from Thihalaveddi area in Eastern Batticaloa.
The military said the LTTE has driven the civilians further South of the 'No-Fire-Zone' in the face of advancing troops. Ground reports said at least 25-30 LTTE cadres were suspected to be killed during intermittent clashes.
Few Lankan soldiers, who have sustained injuries in the fighting around west of Vellamullavaikkal, were evacuated for medical treatment, the army said in a statement.
Amid global concerns for the tens of thousands of civilians trapped in the war zone, a senior defence official said the security forces have received clear instructions from President Mahinda Rajapaksa to step up humanitarian operations in the North to take care of the civilians, who have escaped from the LTTE-controlled areas.
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