Two soldiers were killed in each of three separate incidents in the Mullaitivu district and another soldier was killed in Kilinochchi district, 320 kilometres north of the capital Colombo.

Six rebels were killed in a Kilinochchi and one other in Vavuniya, and eight rebels were killed by troops in Weloya, officials said.

Troops captured rebel-controlled areas in the Eastern province last year after launching offensives in mid-2006, and since January 2008 are concentrating on areas in the north.

Tamil rebel forces, which have waged a secessionist campaign in the north and east of the country since the 1970s. (dpa)