July 14, Colombo: Fierce fighting between advancing Sri Lankan troops and the Tamil Tiger rebels continued in the restive North killing 35 Tigers, the military said today. The fighting across the northern region killed over 60 combatants over the weekend.

In Mannar, 14 LTTE cadres were killed in a fierce battle yesterday and two bunkers were destroyed, the Media Center for National Security said. Troops in a search operation found 5 bodies of Tigers with a T-56 weapon.

Troops battling ahead of frontlines in Vavuniya killed thirteen LTTE cadres in several skirmishes. Troops also found an LTTE truck and a grenade launcher in a search operation following the fighting.

Fighting in Welioya area killed seven Tigers and injured another 26, MCNS reported.

Defense authorities say the offensive operations to liberate Wanni region are continuing. Sri Lanka stepped up its military campaign to wipe out the Tigers this year after the government abrogated the defunct 2002 ceasefire agreement in January.