Sri Lanka’s air force boosted up their offence on rebel positions after a suicide attack ended up yesterday with 15 deaths, among which Jeyaraj Fernandopulle, Minister of Highways and Chief Government Whip in Parliament.

Fighter jets and heavily armed helicopters attacked the rebel Tamil Tiger positions in northern Sri Lanka, killing 49 rebels, after receiving information about the area being used to train suicide bombers, according to BBC News.

The air raids come just one day after the tragic killing of 15 people during the Hindu New Year celebration at the Kanthi playground in the Weliveriya town. The minister was just about to wave the start flag for the race when it happened. The bombing also wounded 83 others, including 16 which are in critical condition at the moment.

The government asked the general public to be vigilant for more attacks because after the north annihilation they will definitely attempt a comeback.   

Jeyaraj Fernandopulle is the second minister killed this year after DM Dassanayake, the minister for nation building, died in a bombing incident on January 8. The government has been dealing with such aggravations ever since 1983 and plans are being conducted in order to crush the separatist rebels by the end of 2010. Approximately 70,000 people have been killed since the war began.  

The demands made by the rebels refer to an independence claim  by Sri Lanka’s Tamil minority.