July 04, Colombo: Sri Lankan troops pushing ahead of battles lines into the rebel territory captured a Tiger camp known as 'Michael Base' located 7 km north from Janakapura in Welioya today while defense reports said 32 Tigers and two soldiers were killed in heavy fighting across the embattled Northern region.

Meanwhile Sri Lanka Air Force MI 24 Helicopters attacked an LTTE truck transporting Tigers to the battle field 2 km south of Vedithalathiuv in Mannar killing seven Tiger rebels yesterday, the military said.

Heavy fighting erupted in Mannar as troops continued to push into the Tiger territory in an effort to block their sea supply route. Seventeen Tigers were killed and 25 others were wounded when troops destroyed nine LTTE bunkers situated east of Vedithalathiuv and the west of Periyamadu yesterday evening, defense authorities said. Two soldiers were also killed and another two are reported missing.

Fighting in Welioya area yesterday killed 5 Tiger rebels and injured 12 Tigers and two soldiers while three Tigers were killed in Vavuniya battlefronts.

Sri Lankan government says over 4,000 Tigers have been killed since it stepped up its military campaign this year to liberate the Wanni region from LTTE. However independent verification of casualty figures is not possible as the media access to the battle zone is restricted.