May 06, Colombo: Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Rathnasiri Wickramanayaka today said that military operations in the North are continuing to drive away the LTTE rebels and liberate the Wanni region.

Speaking in the parliament the PM said 120 security forces personnel from Army, Navy and the Air force were killed and another 945 were injured in clashes during the month of April.

He said 56 civilians were also killed while 145 others injured.

Sri Lankan government has vowed to eliminate the terror group from the North. It has stepped up its military campaign against the LTTE following the abrogation of the defunct ceasefire agreement early this year.

The government successfully liberated the Eastern region from the LTTE last year and now provincial council elections will be held on May 10th to elect political members for its governance.

However, international as well as local political and defense analysts point out that only a negotiated political solution can bring the lasting peace in the troubled region.