Colombo  - Government troops recaptured a strategic town from Tamil rebels after killing at least 15 rebels and losing two soldiers in military operations in the area, military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said Friday.

Adampan town, 312 north of the capital, was taken in the early hours of Friday, he said. Troops have been fighting in the area for more than four months.

Seven soldiers were injured in the operations, but rebels during the last hours had put up very little resistance, he added.

The town was a strategic point used by the rebels to smuggle in essential items, including fuel, into the areas held by them.

In a related military operation, troops recaptured an area of two square kilometres including an irrigation tank on Thursday in Mannar.

Security forces have launched a series of military operations in the north to recapture more rebel held areas.

More than 3,500 rebels and at least 400 security personnel and policemen have been killed in these clashes, according to the military. (dpa)