Sri Lankan forces fight rebels for key water reservoir

SRI LANKAN forces yesterday launched a new air and ground offensive to wrest a key reservoir from Tamil rebels who have cut off water to 60,000 villagers, while the rebels claimed to have sunk a navy warship.

“Our air force is targeting terrorist bases and our ground troops have started operations today,” military spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said.

The bombing was intended to prevent rebels from bringing reinforcements into the eastern Trincomalee district, he added.