Colombo:
Government troops and Tamil Tiger rebels fought battles on the northern fronts, leaving 11 rebels and seven soldiers dead, the military said on Saturday.
The new fighting took place in the Mannar, Welioya and Vavuniya regions bordering the rebels' de-facto state in the north on Friday, a defense ministry statement said.
In the Welioya area, separate clashes killed seven rebels and four soldiers, while three confrontations in Vavuniya and Mannar killed four rebels and three soldiers, it said.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment.
It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because journalists are banned from the northern jungles where much of the fighting takes place. Each side commonly exaggerates its enemy's casualties while playing down its own.
Fighting has escalated in recent months along the front lines.
The Tamil Tiger rebels have fought since 1983 to create an independent state for ethnic minority Tamils who have suffered marginalization by successive governments controlled by ethnic Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
The new fighting took place in the Mannar, Welioya and Vavuniya regions bordering the rebels' de-facto state in the north on Friday, a defense ministry statement said.
In the Welioya area, separate clashes killed seven rebels and four soldiers, while three confrontations in Vavuniya and Mannar killed four rebels and three soldiers, it said.
Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not immediately be reached for comment.
It was not possible to independently verify the military's claims because journalists are banned from the northern jungles where much of the fighting takes place. Each side commonly exaggerates its enemy's casualties while playing down its own.
Fighting has escalated in recent months along the front lines.
The Tamil Tiger rebels have fought since 1983 to create an independent state for ethnic minority Tamils who have suffered marginalization by successive governments controlled by ethnic Sinhalese. More than 70,000 people have been killed in the conflict.
