By Xinhua
Colombo : 17 Tamil rebels were killed in a series of gun battles with government soldiers in Sri Lanka’s north, the military said Saturday.
Fighting occurred along the front lines in northern Vavuniya district, throughout Friday, leaving 13 Tamil Tigers dead, said a defense ministry official.
Separate clashes in nearby Mannar district killed four insurgents and one soldier, the official said.
Clashes have been escalated between government soldiers and rebels in the country since the government officially abandoned the six-year-old Norwegian backed cease-fire on Jan. 16.