The Sri Lankan Navy on Wednesday claimed that it has killed at least 40 Tamil Tiger rebels when it confronted a flotilla of Sea Tiger boats in the seas off Vettilaikerni in the northern Jaffna peninsula.

Sri Lanka's [Images] Defence Ministry said the sea battle erupted late on Tuesday night when the naval fast attack craft on routine patrol detected and engaged four clusters of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Sea Tiger boats heading towards Point Pedro from Kaddaikaadu, south of Vettilaikerni.

"Five LTTE Sea Tiger boats were completely destroyed while nine others were disabled during the confrontation. By intercepting to the LTTE communication channel, it is revealed that at least 40 LTTE cadres were killed and many other sustained injuries during the confrontation," the Defence Ministry claimed in a web report on Wednesday morning.

The navy was supported by the ground troops with heavy MBRL and artillery fire and also MI 24 helicopter gunships during the confrontation that had gone on till midnight, it said.

The Defence Ministry, however, did not say anything about the casualties of the Sri Lankan Navy in the latest sea battle.

There was no immediate reaction from the LTTE in this regard.