Colombo: Dealing a major blow to the beleaguered LTTE, Sri Lankan troops on Thursday captured the last remaining medical facility of the rebels at the restive Pudukudiyirippu area in Wanni and killed their financial chief along with scores of other guerrillas in fierce clashes.
Government forces entered the Pudukudiyirippu Hospital premises this morning after forcing the LTTE to retreat from the building which they turned into a major rebel hideout since the fall of Mullaittivu town on January 25, the ministry said adding, the rebels are now pushed to less than 40 sq km area in the North.
Meanwhile, in a major set back for the Tigers, the LTTE's financial wing chief, Subarathnam Selvatureiy alias Thamilendi alias Ranjith Appa, was killed on Wednesday in confrontations that took place in east of Pudukudiyirippu, military sources said.
Thamilendi, a high profile LTTE leader, handled the outfit's bank accounts, tax collection and all other financial matters, sources said.
Latest military intelligence as well as other technical sources confirmed on Thursday that scores of top and middle-rung Sea Tigers and Black Tigers have perished during ground confrontations in Pudukudiyirippu and surrounding areas after LTTE directed artillery fire, the army said.
The army added that the troops have also recovered chemical warfare kits and airplane parts from the area.
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