Seven persons, including six Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels, were killed in fresh violence in Sri Lanka's embattled north east, the defence ministry said on Sunday.
The dead included one soldier who was killed in an exchange of fire with the LTTE in the northern district of Vavuniya. Three rebels were also killed in the fire fight.
In a similar confrontation in the eastern district of Batticaloa, three bodies of Tiger rebels were recovered by troops after an exchange of fire.
The fresh killings came hours after the Tigers were blamed for a Claymore mine attack that killed people and wounded another 25 on Saturday in vavuniya district.
Police and troops stepped up security on Sunday ahead of next week's traditional Sinhala and Tamil New Year.