By DPA
Colombo : Sporadic clashes between Tamil rebels and government troops in northern Sri Lanka left at least 11 rebels dead, military officials said Tuesday.
Eight of the rebels were killed ahead of the forward defence lines of the troops in Muhamalai, 370 km north of the capital, when rebels made an attempt to infiltrate into military controlled areas Monday night, the officials said.
Troops fired artillery and mortar shells at bunkers located ahead of the army defence lines, causing more rebel casualties, but details of the damage and casualties were not known.
Three more rebels were killed in Karampaikulam, Vavuniya, 240 km north of the capital, Monday.
A group of youths fleeing the rebel-held areas arrived in the north-western area of Mannar on Tuesday morning and surrendered to navy personnel, a Sri Lankan Navy spokesman said.
The spokesman said the youths had claimed that rebels were forcibly recruiting young men for arms training in preparation for a possible military offensive against the group.
The Air Force has continued to bomb the rebel-held northern Wanni region, which remains the main rebel base after their cadres were ousted from the eastern province following a series of military operations.
Fighting in the northern and eastern provinces has escalated during the past two years, claiming the lives of more than 5,400 people.