'COLOMBO. May 4: Tamil Tiger guerillas blasted power pylons in northeastern Srl Lanka today, cutting off electricity to the region, officials said, reports AFP

The separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) used explosives to bring down two pylons at Thamapalaga-mam in the district of Trin-cornalee. the officials said.

The terrorists have damaged the main high tension power line to Trincomalee " a local official said. "It will be sometime before we can restore the supply

Earlier last month the Tigers destroyed another high tension power line, but the au thorities were, able to make alternate arrangements to provide electricity to Trine oma lee

The Tiger guerillas have

stepped up their attacks against security forces as well as sabotage of public utilities in the east of the country follow ing the military setbacks sul fered by them in the northern Jaffna peninsula

Security forces were Saturday consolidating in %reas of the peninsula

Security forces were Saturday consolidating in areas of the peninsula wrested from the Tigers for the first time in 10 years and nearly 250 OOO Tamil civilians have crossed rebel lines and entered gov ernment-controlled areas

The Tigers are leading a protracted campaign for tnde pendence in the northern and eastern regions where the two million Tamil minority is con- . centrated More than 50.000 Ele have died in bitter ng since 1972