Colombo- Two strategic coastal villages in north-western Sri Lanka, both frequently used by rebels to smuggle in military hardware from South India, were brought under government control after a fierce round of fighting, military officials said Thursday.

The two villages, known as Devil's Point and Vallaipadu, lie 360 kilometres north of Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital. They were captured Thursday. Troops were in the process of consolidating their positions, military officials said.

Colombo  – The Sri Lankan government has rejected an offer by Tamil rebels for a ceasefire in the northern part of the country where fighting continues as troops push forward to recapture rebel-held areas, a local newspaper said Monday.

The government's Defence Affairs spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that Tamil rebels would have to comply with the conditions set by the government to lay down arms and surrender to resume talks.

Colombo - Government troops captured a strategic village held by Tamil separatist rebels as government forces continued their offensive to retake all of northern Sri Lanka, a military spokesman said Thursday.

The capture of the village in Akkarayankulam, 360 kilometres north of Colombo, came after nearly three months of fighting in the area.

The military released pictures of the captured area and said it was continuing its operations there.

Colombo – The Sri Lanka Navy destroyed at least four Tamil rebel boats and killed 14 cadres off northern Sri Lanka in a fierce sea battle between the two sides on Saturday morning, a navy spokesman said.

The clash broke off Nagarkovil, 390 kilometres after a fleet of rebel boats were intercepted shortly before dawn on Saturday, Commander DKPDassanayaka said.

He also said that according to communication intercepted 16 rebels had also been injured.

Colombo - Tamil rebels used a crude light aircraft to penetrate air-defence systems and drop two bombs on a power station in the capital, killing one employee, military officials in Sri Lanka said.

Despite warnings by the military and civilians that the low-flying aircraft was heading towards the capital, it managed to drop the bombs at the Kelanitissa power plant and escape, officials said.

In an apparent diversionary tactic, rebels bombed a military base in the coastal district of Mannar, 310 kilometres north of the capital, less than one hour before the attack.

Colombo - An employee of a power station which came under a night air attack by Tamil rebels in Sri Lanka's capital died as an investigation into damages was ongoing, a spokesman for the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) said Wednesday.

The employee did not have external injuries, but appeared to have died of shock during Tuesday night's attack on the Kelanitissa power plant located in a high security zone within Colombo, said the spokesman.