The military said that the Sri Lanka army has caught 16 Tamil Tiger bunkers and killed almost 22 rebels on Tuesday.

This comes a day later after 28 Tigers and two soldiers were killed during clashes.

A military official said: "The troops captured 16 LTTE terrorist bunkers in Viyattankulam and Pallikullam in Mannar. The ground troops confirmed at least 22 terrorists were killed," Reuters reports.

The clashes on Tuesday occurred in northwest district of Mannar, which is a territory situated between the ones of the government and the Tigers’.

According to the Sri Lankan defense ministry, almost 815 rebels were killed since the six-year ceasefire between the government and LTTE ended on January 16.

The number cannot be verified as it is known that the government doesn’t allow reporters in the rebels’ territory, AFP informs.

In the meantime, on a rebel website news appeared about the deaths of 8 civilians including children and 35 injured on Tuesday by a roadside bomb which targeted a school bus.

This incident was denied by a military spokesman.

In recent months the government has gained a stronger position since it has killed senior rebel figures like the political leader and military intelligence chief of the Tigers.

Still, analysts can’t say who might win this war after all.

According to Army chief Sarath Fonseka, the military planned to kill 3,000 rebels in the first six months of the year.

Ever since the Tigers started a campaign in 1972 to form an independent state in the north and east of the country, almost 70,000 people have died.