Lanka captures key LTTE base, kill 30 rebels

Vidattaltivu is the biggest town situated on the North-Western coast of the Island and was used by the LTTE as their main sea-Tiger base cum logistic hub in the West Colombo: Sri Lankan army on Wednesday captured a key rebel-held town, used by the LTTE as a naval base, in the island nation's embattled north, where ground troops aided by fighter jets killed over 45 guerrillas in heavy fighting. The troops captured "the strategically important Vidattaltivu town" in Mannar, the Defence Ministry said. "Air Force MI-24 Helicopters carried out air strikes on two LTTE boats 4km North of Vidattaltivu sea line," it said, adding that the rebel vessels were completely destroyed. In another attack, fighter jets targeted a sea Tiger gathering point 14 kms north of Vidattaltivu damaging the rebel boats, it said. Quoting ground sources, the... [read full story]