By NNN-PTI
Colombo : At least 39 Tamil Tigers and a soldier were killed in fierce clashes in Sri Lanka’s restive northern region, officials here said Sunday.
Nine rebels were gunned down by security forces in three separate encounters at Kiribbanwewa in Welioya Saturday while two others died in a confrontation at Parayanakulam in Vavuniya, the Defence Ministry said.
In another clash at Muhamalai in Jaffna, security forces lost one soldier, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said, adding troops also killed three Tamil Tigers in an attack in the same area Saturday evening.
Separately, two rebels were killed in skirmishes with troops in Kokkuthuduwai and Janakapura areas of Jaffna Saturday, the Defence Ministry said.
Five rebels were shot dead at Vilathikulam in Vavuniya when troops intercepted the LTTE foot movement there Saturday, the MCNS said.
One rebel was killed at Kallikulam in Vavuniya Saturday, the Army said.
Earlier in the day, troops hit an LTTE mortar-training base North of Palamoddai in Vavuniya with artillery fire.