Troops thrashed LTTE battle formations and pushed ahead, amidst heavy resistance and torrential monsoon rains, from areas North East of Nachchikuda at Vannerikkulama and from the edges at Akkarayankulama Tank in Kilinochchi. These military advances were made while LTTE ground chieftains were reported wavering over disposition of fighting elements in Wanni and North.

According to military, intercepted LTTE communication has revealed constant arguments between the Wanni and Northern cadres who were accusing each other for the recent battlefield losses.

Meanwhile, Child rights groups in Colombo urged more pressure from the international community to force LTTE to deliver the remaining child recruits, who according to these activists will be used as cannon fodders as fighting surge and shift towards Mullaittivu.

"This is a high-time to call-on for the release of these underage fighters in LTTE ranks and what we need is the genuine participation of other HR activists in Colombo who have been influential, voicing this tragedy", a rights activist said speaking exclusively to defence.lk.

Meanwhile, security forces recovered the bodies of 3 soldiers reported missing since Saturday(18), following heavy fighting at Akkarayankulama, Kilinochchi. Intense fighting was reported between troops and LTTE over the long earth bund at Vannerrikkulama and Akkarayankulama, yesterday(20), as troops made its first move after consolidating its newly gained positions in the areas on Saturday.

Troops have also found 2 decomposed bodies of terrorists and 4 assault riffles during subsequent search operations conducted in general area Akkarayankulama.

Intense battles are being fought in the western and eastern fronts of Kilinochchi, now operated by the Task Force -1 and 57 Division troops respectively, security sources said.

The battles are expected to shift towards Jayapuram and North of Manniyankulama, east of the A-32 main road, while the central Kilinochchi battles are expected to surge as troops position head-on within striking distance of the LTTE heartland. The fall of Kilinochchi will not just be a symbolic victory as reported by some foreign news agencies defence observers stated, adding that this will be the beginning of the 'unceasing military wave' which is expected to halt after sweeping the last terrorist from the Eastern shore.

Separately, troops recovered another decomposed LTTE body, a T-56 assault riffle and an I-com set during search operations conducted in general area Pallavarayankaddu, at the Western Kilinochchi battlefront.

Meanwhile, at the Mullaittivu battlefront at Andankulama, troops forced into an LTTE bunker position capturing 3 bunker overheads and a mortar pit, security sources said. According to finalized military reports, security forces also have uncovered 382 anti-personnel(AP) and 6 IEDs, during search operations conducted in the same area.

Also, a claymore mine and 150ft long wire were found by troops while conducting a search operation in general area Jetty camp at Welikanda Batticaloa, yesterday, Eastern military sources reported.