By Xinhua
Colombo : At least three soldiers and six Tamil Tigers rebels have been killed in latest fighting in the island’s north, defence officials said Thursday.
Battles erupted in the northern Vavuniya and Mannar districs Wednesday evening, which also injured five soldiers, officials here said.
Clashes in the north have now become a regular feature after the troops cleared the eastern province of rebel presence.
The process of Norwegian backed negotiations has been stalled with the two sides showing no interest in restarting the peace process.
More than 5,000 people have died in the escalating conflict in the island country since the end of 2005.
Claiming discrimination at the hands of the Sinhala majority, the Tamil rebels have been fighting the government since the mid-1980s to establish a separate homeland for the minority Tamils in the north and east.