Sri Lankan troops on Friday captured the strategic town of Ampalavanpokkanai in south of Mullaittivu, after a fierce battle with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, in which two senior LTTE [Images] commanders were killed.

Advancing rapidly, the Lankan forces have now virtually encircled Puthukudirippu, the last town held by the Tigers, where LTTE supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran is reportedly leading the rebels.

The army captured Ampalavanpokkanai town after five hours of intense battles during which two senior LTTE commanders, Anbu and Suresh, were killed.

In the course of the battle in the thick jungles, soldiers of the army's 53rd division also found a three-storyed underground bunker, suspected to be used by Prabhakaran. This is the third big bunker seized by the government forces in the battles for Killinochi and Mullaittivu.

With the capture of these areas, the LTTE is confined to an area that is less than 100 sq kilometres in northern Wanni.