Sri Lanka says troops kill 21 rebels in North Colombo

8220;According to the ground troops and monitored terrorism transmission, 11 terrorists have been killed and more than 30 terrorists were seriously injured due to this operation,8221; the statement said.

It said two tanks were slightly damaged by rebel mortarfire during the offensive some 300 km northeast of the capital Colombo.

In a separate incident, four rebels were killed by government artillery fire near Kandavalai village, also in the Paranthan area, the statement said.

It said five female rebels were also killed when troops operating ahead of their defences confronted a group of guerrillas at Oddusuddan in the northern Wanni region yesterday.

The other rebel was killed by army snipers at Pallamadu village, also in the Wanni region.

There was no immediate statement on the clashes from the rebels.

The latest fighting came after fierce battles between government troops and the rebels that killed at least 192 combatants over the weekend in the northern Wanni region.

The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam LTTE rebels have been fighting for a separate homeland for minority Tamils in Sri Lanka8217;s North and East since 1983. Tens of thousands of people have died in the fighting.