Aug 23, Colombo: Latest round of fighting in the embattled northern region of Sri Lanka killed 28 Tamil Tiger rebels and two soldiers as troops marched forward towards Tiger rebels' de-facto capital Kilinochchci, the military said today.

Soldiers of 56 Division launched an attack on a LTTE bunker in Vendamkulam, Vavuniya this morning killing four Tigers. Fierce clashes in the same area yesterday killed 10 Tigers and injured another 20 while four soldiers also were wounded.

Troops engaged in fierce confrontations with Tiger rebels along the front lines in Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi and Welioya killed 14 Tigers. Another 29 Tigers and 14 soldiers received injuries.

Two soldiers were killed and another was wounded in Nagarkovil, Jaffna on Friday (22) by rebel mortar fire, the Media Center for National Security said.

Sri Lankan troops of 57 Division on Friday captured Thunukkai and Uillankulam, two strategic towns from the Tamil Tigers. With the capture of the two towns, the Sri Lankan Army is just 12 kilometres (7.5 miles) south of Kilinochchi, the power center of the Tigers.

Army Commander Lt. General Sarath Fonseka yesterday said that Kilinochchi will certainly be the next target of the Security Forces. Army Commander expects Mallavi, located just two kilometres east of Thunukkai to fall soon.

“The Security Forces will be in a much advantageous position in the Wanni liberation once we capture both Thunukkai and Mallavi towns. Troops can either move towards Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi or towards Omanthai,” the Army Chief has told a local daily.