A military official said the targets included a suspected rebel meeting place and a boat building facility.

The air raids came a day after the Sri Lankan government said its forces had captured the town of Mulliyawalai, in the district of Mullaitivu.

It gave no details of casualties and there's been no word as yet from the Tamil Tigers.

Elsewhere in the north, the defence ministry said security forces had also expanded their forward defence lines near the town of Kilinochchi, where the rebels have their administrative headquarters.

The Sri Lankan army has mounted a big offensive aimed at capturing territory from the rebels.