The leader of the Tamil Tiger rebels said in his annual address today that a military onslaught against him would be defeated, as air force jets bombed a rebel radio station for the second year running.
Moments before Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) leader Vellupillai Prabhakaran gave his annual Heroes' Day address, jets blew up a rebel radio station in northern Sri Lanka, air force spokesman Wing Commander Janaka Nanayakkara said.
Mr Prabhakaran's speech still went out worldwide via the Voice of the Tigers radio station, broadcast on the Internet.
"Today's challenge is not a big and new one for us compared to what we have faced in history. We will win this challenge with the support of Tamil people," he said in Tamil.
His annual speech is usually aimed at galvanising supporters, especially those in the global Tamil diaspora who for years have funded the LTTE.
Last year, jets bombed another radio centre on the day Prabhakaran spoke, killing nine.
Reuters