Sri Lankan troops on Tuesday overran Tamil Tigers most fortified defence line at Muhamalai in Jaffna peninsula, in a swift and daring incursion gaining 500 metres territory, the army said.

The seizure of Muhamalai defence line came as government forces have launched a major operation to link up troops from the Jaffna with those advancing from Kilinochchi.

“LTTE militants were caught in total disarray following concentrated armour and infantry assaults backed by heavy artillery which left scores of rebels killed and many others wounded,” officials said.

According to military sources, the combined 53 and 55 Division troops have seized control over the entire LTTE defence line, North of A-9, while fighting still continues in the remaining LTTE positions, south of the A-9 main road.

The Sri Lankan forces are now battling for the control of the Elephant Pass to get an overland access to the Jaffna. The link up would bring relief to the Lankan troops positioned in Jaffna, who are now totally dependent on air supply. The LTTE cadres have withdrawn further south-east after receiving heavy beating, the sources said.

Separately, army inflicted damages on the LTTE fighters in two different incidents at Murasumoddei near Kilinochchi and in the Vaddakkachchi area last afternoon, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.

Both LTTE cadres and the troops sustained minor damages in two different confrontations in the Kilaly area of Jaffna on Monday, the Media Centre said. An LTTE anti-personnel mine explosion took place in the Iranamadu west area on Monday near Kilinochchi.