Colombo - Another town held by Tamil rebels in the northern part of Sri Lanka was captured Thursday by advancing government troops after heavy fighting, a military spokesman said.

Troops took control of Dharmapuram town, 395 kilometres north-east of the capital, on Thursday afternoon and were continuing their advance into the last stronghold district of the rebels, he said.

Colombo- The Sri Lankan government sharply criticized comments made by the German Ambassador Jurgen Weerth at the funeral of a slain newspaper editor, a foreign ministry official said Wednesday.

Foreign Secretary Palitha Kohona on Tuesday summoned Weerth to express the government's "displeasure," the official said on condition of anonymity.

Colombo- Government troops have taken control of a one- time military garrison and a strategic road in northern Sri Lanka after weeks of fighting against Tamil rebels in the area, President Mahinda Rajapaksa announced Friday.

"Our troops have taken control of the Elephant Pass area," Rajapaksa said, referring to the former military complex located 390 kilometres north of the capital.

With the capture of the area troops now have control of the strategic highway which runs from the southern part of the country to the northern Jaffna peninsula which is popularly known as the A-9 road.

Colombo - Journalists, civic rights organisations and opposition politicians Friday staged a strong protest in Sri Lanka's capital against the slaying of an anti-government newspaper editor.

The protestors demanded that the government expedite inquiries into the killing Thursday of the Sunday Leader editor, Lasantha Wickrematunga, and warned that failure to investigate the case would lead to the conclusion that the government was responsible for the attack.

Wickramatunga, 51, was on his way to his office in Attidiya, Mt Lavinia, 12 kilometres south of the capital, when two men following him on a motorcycle opened fire at close range. He succumbed to his injuries few hours later in hospital.

Colombo - Seven people, including four civilians and three air force personnel, were killed in a roadside claymore mine explosion in north-eastern Sri Lanka on Friday morning, police said.

A vehicle carrying a group of construction workers and airmen was targeted in the Morawewa area of the Trincomalee district, 230 kilometres north-east of the capital Colombo.

In addition to the seven dead, another civilian was injured in the blast.

The incident occurred in a government-controlled area where civil administration has been functioning.

Further north, government troops are battling to recapture rebel- held areas and have made steady advances into rebel controlled areas, according to the military.

Colombo, Jan. 8 : Unidentified gunmen, riding on a motorcycle, on Thursday killed Lasantha Wickramatunga, the editor of the Sri Lankan daily, Sunday Leader, while he was en route to his office here.

Reports quoted the police as saying that Wickramatunga had died of head wounds received in the shootout. Doctors said they spent three hours trying to save his life.

Local media reports said that Wickramatunga was known for his criticism of the government.