COLOMBO, Jan 29: Sri Lanka’s government said on Tuesday its soldiers had advanced into territory held by the Tamil Tigers in the north of the island, with the death toll from two days of fighting at 69.

Troops smashed 16 guerilla bunkers in the district of Mannar on Tuesday after killing at least 22 rebels, the defence ministry said.

Security forces also killed 45 rebels along the northern frontlines on Monday, the ministry said, putting its own losses at two soldiers dead and 10 wounded.

There was no immediate comment from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), but the pro-rebel Tamilnet.com website said the guerrillas were using booby-trapped devices and snipers against attacking troops.

Since the beginning of January, the Sri Lankan defence ministry has claimed its forces have killed 815 rebels for the loss of just 30 soldiers.—AFP