The LTTE fired artillery and mortar bombs on the Forward Defence Lines at Mullikulam area in the Northern Vavuniya district on Tuesday evening, killing at least one soldier and wounding four more, the ministry said.
"Government troops have retaliated the LTTE attack using mortar and artillery guns," the ministry said adding that 20 LTTE cadres have been confirmed killed due to retaliatory firing.
Meanwhile, the pro-LTTE Tamilnet said the rebels "repulsed a fresh ground operation by the Sri Lankan Army that attempted to move towards Paalamoddai, northwest of Vavuniya" on Wednesday.
"Sri Lankan Army troopers, on retreat, left behind their dead soldiers, arms and ammunition, including Rocket Propelled Grenade Launchers and Light Machine Guns," the LTTE military spokesman Rasiah Ilanthiriyan was quoted as saying by the Tamilnet.