Sri Lanka jets bomb rebels, fighting kills 54 in north

By Ranga Sirilal

COLOMBO (Reuters) - Sri Lankan fighter jets bombed rebel positions on Thursday while troops captured a rebel-held area, killing at least 25 militants, the military said.

The air raid on positions in the rebel-held districts of Mullaitivu and Kilinochchi came two days after the government dismissed a declaration by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) of a unilateral ceasefire from July 26 to August 4.

"Air force fighter jets attacked LTTE leaders gathering east of Thunukkai in Kilinochchi in the afternoon and a recruit training centre north of Oddusuddan in Mullaitivu this morning," said air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara.

"Pilots confirmed the targets were successfully engaged."

The military said ground troops had captured a rebel-held area in the island's northern district of Mullaitivu on Thursday.

"Army troops captured an area 3 kilometers (2 miles) south of Mallavi, killed 25 LTTE terrorists and captured some weapons," said a spokesman at Media Centre for National security.

He said the military had not suffered any casualties.

The military said fighting on Wednesday in four northern districts had also killed 25 rebels and injured 21 Tiger rebels.  Continued...