At least 11 Sri Lankan soldiers were killed in heavy fighting in the island's north-east on Monday, official sources said, as Tiger rebels claimed that 20 civilians died in army artillery strikes.
Military and medical sources said another 79 soldiers were wounded in heavy artillery exchanges in the district of Trincomalee, where troops were trying to push back Tiger artillery guns.
The rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) said 20 civilians were killed and another 26 wounded in air and artillery attacks.
"Twenty civilians have died so far and 26 have been injured," the LTTE said in a statement. It did not say if the Tigers suffered casualties in the latest fighting.
The military casualties were taken to three hospitals in Trincomalee district as well as neighbouring Polonnaruwa district, doctors said, adding that most of the victims had shrapnel wounds.
Military sources said 79 soldiers were being treated in two of the hospitals.
Government forces pounded Tiger gun positions at Sampur, at the southern edge of the Koddiyar bay where the Trincomalee port is located. Officials said the Tigers were firing back with artillery and mortars.
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