The army says one of its soldiers also died in the fighting, which took place mostly on the front lines that surround territory held by the rebels.

Earlier, the Tamil Tigers said they'd killed about sixty soldiers in heavy fighting on Sunday and Monday around the district of Mannar.

The figures could not be independently verified.

The fighting in northern Sri Lanka has intensified in recent months amid government promises to capture territory held by the rebels. The Tamil Tigers are reported to be offering stiff resistance.