More than 20 killed in skirmishes in Sri Lanka

Colombo: As many as 24 people have been killed in gunbattles between government soldiers and Tamil Tiger rebels.

Three soldiers were also killed in a mortar attack and bomb blast on Sunday.

An officer at the Defense Ministry said Army troops and Tamil Tigers exchanged small arms and mortar fire in the village of Periya Pandivirichchan in Vavuniya district.

Around 20 rebels were killed and 25 others injured, while nine nine soldiers were
also wounded in the fight.

In nearby Mannar district, soldiers stationed in the village of Adampan came under heavy rebel mortar attack on Saturday evening, leaving two soldiers dead and six others
wounded.