Sri Lanka takes more territory from Tigers: ministry

April 21, 2009 (AFP) - The Sri Lankan army on Tuesday captured more territory from the Tamil Tigers ahead of the expiry of a government deadline for the rebels to surrender, the defence ministry said.



The defence ministry has given Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran and his fighters until 0630 GMT Tuesday to surrender. Advancing government troops have effectively cut the last remaining strip of Tiger territory in the northeast of the island in half, the ministry said.

"The Sri Lanka army's 58th division soldiers this morning entered into (the) areas of Putumathalan and Amapalavanpokkanai in the no-fire zone," the ministry said in a statement.