Security has stepped up in Sri Lanka

The rebels have not commented on the government account of the clashes.

Tamil Tiger rebels said that four soldiers died when their vehicle was hit by a blast from a mine planted by the Tigers near the town of Buttala.

However government defence sources say that three soldiers have received injuries due to the explosion and one soldier has succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.

Hidden explosive

Meanwhile a claymore bomb was found near the Basawakkulama Tank in Anuradhapura.

The bomb was hidden under a tree in the scared city area and found by a military search party.

Military said that the bomb had been labelled as to have been manufactured in Tamil Eelam.

The military believes that the Tamil tigers were planning a claymore attack on service personal who were stationed at a transit camp nearby, or a VIP visiting the scared city in Anuradhapura.