COLOMBO , Sri Lanka ( CNN ) -- Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapaksa claimed Friday there was `` a conspiracy with certain international forces '' to belittle his government 's military victories against Tamil Tiger rebels . Sri Lankan army troops have had there most decisive victories against the Tamil Tigers in recent weeks . The aim of these conspirators , he said in an address to the nation , `` is to level unfounded charges against the army commander who works with greatest dedication to achieve these victories . '' He also used the address to formally announce the recapture of the northern town of Elephant Pass , the point at which mainland Sri Lanka links to the northern Jaffna peninsula . It had remained in rebel hands for over nine years . The recapture enable the government to use the A-9 highway linking the mainland to the peninsula to move troops and supplies . Until now it was done either by air or by sea . Rajapaksa 's remarks came amid mounting attacks on the media . On Tuesday a group armed with rifles , pistols and grenades attacked the country 's most popular privately owned television channel MTV . The main control room equipment costing more than $ 1.7 million was damaged . On Thursday , Lasantha Wickrematunga , chief editor of The Sunday Leader , a newspaper which had exposed corruption and criticized aspects of ongoing military operations , was shot dead . Earlier Friday , the leader of the main opposition United National Party ( UNP ) , Ranil Wickremasinghe , accused military and security officials of the attacks , saying the government could not control them . `` Armed forces members are shocked about these incidents . The armed forces says due to the activities of few intelligence sections , the reputation of the country is being ruined . That is the team which the government has no control of , '' he told parliament . Rajapaksa said there were efforts to belittle military victories `` to turn the attention of the people to other directions . '' He said such `` conspiracies arise when a country moves ahead without giving in to external pressures . '' He added `` one must not mistake these conspiracies as being against me or my government . This is a conspiracy against the entire country by those who have been driven to fear due to the successes of our security forces . '' Meanwhile , fighting in northern Sri Lanka between government and rebel forces escalated on several fronts Friday , while Tamil Tiger rebels killed seven people in a roadside bombing . Three members of the Sri Lankan air force and four civilians died when rebels exploded a claymore landmine in the village of Morawewa , near the northeastern port city of Trincomalee , police said . The strategic port town is located about 240km ( 150 miles ) north of the capital , Colombo . Friday 's incident came as troops pursued their military campaign in the northern Wanni region to recapture remaining rebel strongholds , military sources said . Government troops were said to be meeting fierce resistance as they advanced on the Tamil stronghold of Mullaitivu and a naval blockade remained in the northeastern seas . The 25-year long civil war has left more than 65,000 people dead . The U.S. State Department has designated the Tamil Tigers a terrorist organization .
Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa makes conspiracy claims . Sri Lankan government troops continue advance into rebel territory . - April 22 : The United Nations Security Council passes a resolution calling for an immediate end to the fighting in eastern Ukraine and calls on all parties involved "to immediately cease hostilities throughout Ukraine".