Sri Lanka Army claims capture of more LTTE territory

Colombo, Jan.8 (ANI): A spokesman of the Sri Lanka military said on Thursday that government troops have taken more territory from Tamil Tiger rebels in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara told a press conference here that the army has seized the town of Pallai and hopes to recapture the entire northern part of the country soon.

Pallai is south of Muhamalai, the northernmost defensive line of the rebels in Jaffna, which the troops captured on Tuesday.he Tigers have not yet commented on the latest fighting in Jaffna.

He said that the army's key objective is to open up the strategically located Elephant Pass, to allow free movement between Jaffna and the mainland.

Government troops are already at the southern end, he added.

The LTTEs' administrative and political capital, Kilinochchi, fell to Sri Lankan troops last week.

The rebels have been fighting for the separate homeland for the past 25 years. At least 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict. (ANI)