Colombo - Security forces have started an advance towards a former military garrison in northern Sri Lanka in an attempt to drive Tamil rebels off the Jaffna peninsula.

The government troops reached the southern reaches of the Elephant Pass area, 395 kilometres north of the capital Colombo, and in the process captured a village earlier controlled by the rebels.

The Elephant Pass is strategically located at the entry to the northern Jaffna peninsula. The military twice lost control of the area to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE), who have been holding the pass since 2000.

Officials said troops are closing upon the area from the north and the south of Elephant Pass.

Defence Ministry spokesman Kehelliya Rambukwella said that troops advancing from the north on Tuesday captured the rebels' forward defence lines, forcing them the withdraw nearly 600 metres.

Troops were carrying out more operations in the north-eastern Mullaittivu, advancing towards another rebel stronghold, the spokesman said. (dpa)