Fighting between government soldiers and Tamil separatists along the northern front lines of Sri Lanka's civil war killed 16 rebels, the military said Wednesday. The latest battles broke out Tuesday in the Vavuniya, Mannar and Welioya regions bordering the Tamil Tiger rebels' de facto state in the north, military spokesman Brig. Udaya Nanayakkara said. Army troops, in the worst fighting, killed seven rebels in Welioya region, he said. The same battle wounded 14 rebels and two soldiers, he said. Other clashes in Vavuniya and Mannar killed nine rebels and wounded four soldiers, Nanayakkara said. Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be reached for immediate comment. It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because journalists are banned from the northern jungles where much of the fighting takes place. Each side commonly exaggerates the other's casualties while playing down its own. Fighting along the front lines has escalated in recent months as the government has pledged to capture rebel-held territory and crush the insurgents by the end of the year. Diplomats and other observers say the army has faced more resistance than expected. The rebels have been fighting since 1983 for an independent homeland for minority ethnic Tamils, who have been marginalized for decades by governments dominated by the Sinhalese majority. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's Defence Secretary and the brother of Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa on Monday invited two media activists Poddala Jayantha of Working Journalists' Association and Sanath Balasooriya, the secretary of the organiztion, and had cautioned them that their activities are bringing disrepute to state armed forces, and that the government will not bear responsibility if any harm befalls on them from “patriotic citizens” who support the military, informed sources from Colombo said.
