COLOMBO, Jan 7: Heavy fighting across Sri Lanka’s northern frontlines left at least 25 rebels and government troops dead, the defence ministry said on Monday, as peace monitors began winding down operations.

In a series of separate attacks across the island’s north, the military said it killed 22 Tamil Tiger rebels, losing three soldiers in the past 24 hours that ended on Monday afternoon.

The heavy fighting came as Scandanavian-led monitors began readying to end their operations before the February 2002 Norwegian brokered-truce formally ends on Jan 16. According to latest government figures, 95 rebels and six soldiers have died in fighting since the beginning of this month.

There was no comment from the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, who have been fighting for independence for minority Tamils in the island’s north and east since 1972.

Independent verification of casualty figures is not possible as journalists are not allowed into rebel-held areas. Both sides are known to make sharply varying casualty claims.

The Colombo-based government last week scrapped the truce pact, which automatically also ends the monitoring mission. It gave the mission a mandatory two weeks’ notice to pull out.

President Rajapakse’s top advisor on the peace process quit on Sunday after the government formally ditched the truce amid mounting international concern that the country could see even more intense fighting.—AFP