Sri Lankan security forces have sealed most of north-west coast of Kilinochchi, an LTTE stronghold and killed a senior rebel leader amidst airstrikes on sea tiger bases in the restive north, the military said on Tuesday.

The Army Task force 1 troops operating in the western half of the Kilinochchi battle frontage have reached a decisive stage in their mission, as they have successfully sealed off over 90 percent of the 80 km long northwestern coast of the island, the defence ministry said.

Following the recent liberation of Nachchikuda, the Task Force 1 now has continuous domination over 70 Km stretch of the strategically vital Mannar- Pooneryn (A-32) road, the ministry added.

Simultaneously, Sri Lanka Air Force fighter jets launched precision air strikes targeting two key LTTE Sea Tiger bases located on the Vettalaikerni coast, Northeastern shores in Kilinochchi last evening, the air force said.

According to Air Force spokesperson Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara, the air strikes were launched around 6 pm local time.

He said, the first Sea Tiger base to be pounded is located in the Kadaikadu area of Kilinochchi, 3 Km west of Vettaliakerni at 6.05 pm local time. The targeted LTTE base was in in flames , he added citing air intelligence reports.

Nanayakkara said that the second raid was on a Sea Tiger base located 1.5 km west of Vettalaikerni.

LTTE leader killed

Meanwhile, intercepted LTTE radio transmissions have revealed that senior LTTE leader, Ilakoon, was killed during a confrontation in the Navalladi area on Sunday.

The slain outfit leader was a self styled "Lieutenant Colonel" of the LTTE and a member of the ground fighters of the Sea Tigers, the defence ministry said.

According to the battlefield reports received so far, the Task Force 1 are now on an accelerated march towards Poonaryn, capturing remaining LTTE footholds on the northwestern coast.

Heavy confrontations were reported from the Palayilkulam area throughout yesterday as the LTTE made a desperate attempt to slowdown the advancing soldiers, it said.

Troops following a confrontation occurred around 1 pm found one body of a slain LTTE cadre along with a T-56 riffle.

During the morning hours on Monday Army Commandos attacked a group of LTTE cadres in the Ponnaveli area inflicting heavy damages to them.

Meanwhile, Army Special Forces soldiers ambushed a group of LTTE cadres travelling on a tractor in the Uruthirapuram area of Kilinochchi in the afternoon hours of yesterday, causing heavy damages to the tigers, the military said.

Separate clashes were also reported from the Mukkamvillu area during the day, the ministry said.

"Defence observers are of the view that the rebels are fast loosing their hold in the northwestern coast of the island," the ministry said.

LTTE casualties

The LTTE also suffered casualties during confrontations at Akkarayankulam in Kilinochchi yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

Meanwhile in Pallayakulam area of Kilinochchi, troops launched an attack on the LTTE and destroyed one of their strongholds, the MCNS said.

Meanwhile, Commander of the Sri Lanka Navy Vice Admiral Wasantha Karannagoda made a special visit to the Northern Naval Command yesterday to commend the "heroic personnel" of the Special Boat Squadron (SBS) and Rapid Action Boat Squadron (RABS) for defeating the enemy suicide mission off Nagar Kovil in the North-eastern seas on Saturday.

In a pre-dawn interception, the navy elites attacked a cluster of LTTE sea tiger boats that day, with sea tiger cadres and their explosives-laden suicide craft incurring heavy loses.

At Mullaittivu, security forces captured six LTTE bunkers in Mattavyaru area after inflicting heavy damages to the tiger militants, the MCNS said.

Meanwhile, heavy fighting continued in the Andankulam area causing considerable damages to the LTTE cadres between 09.10am and 3.35 pm yesterday, it said adding one tiger bunker was also captured during the confrontation.

A woman residing in North-western Mannar was arrested with several military items at Irattaperiyakulam while she was travelling in a bus bound for Medavachchiya from Vavuniya yesterday, the MCNS added.