COLOMBO: Sri Lankan air force jets on Wednesday carried out a second straight day of bombing raids against Tamil Tiger rebels positioned in jungles in the east of the island, the military said.

The raids were part of a months-old effort aimed at dislodging the ethnic rebels from their hideouts in Thoppigala, an area around the eastern lagoon town of Batticaloa.

“The pilots reported that the targets were hit successfully,” spokesman Ajantha Silva told reporters here.

The Tamil Tigers are fighting for an independent homeland for the tropical island's minority ethnic Tamils.

The 35-year-old conflict has claimed over 60,000 lives. Security forces are also on high alert this week as the rebels prepare to mark the 20th anniversary Thursday of their first suicide attack.—AFP