COLOMBO - At least 19 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in a series of gunbattles in Sri LankaÂ’s north. The government-run Media Centre for National Security said yesterday that the security forces were making further progress into rebel territory on all four fronts - Mannar in the northwest, Welioya in the northeast, Vavuniya which lies south of the rebel-controlled Wanni and Muhamalai, the northern borders of the rebel territory.According to the media centre, the heaviest fighting on Saturday took place in the Vavuniya sector where 12 rebels died. Four rebels and a solider died in Welioya while three rebels died in Mannar.
There were no comments from the Tiger military command on the governmentÂ’s claim.