At least 63 Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam militants and three security forces personnel were killed in raging ground battles since weekend while Tamil Tiger rebels on Monday shelled a main Sri Lankan military air base linking the country to the embattled north.

In fierce clashes in north-western Mannar on Monday, the defence ministry said the military killed 25 LTTE militants, including 16 in Palaikkuli.

One soldier was also reportedly killed in the incident, the Media Centre for National Security said.

In clashes at South of Adampan in Mannar, troops killed five LTTE cadres, it said, adding in another incident at west of Adampan, troops killed two rebels.

The LTTE said they shelled the Palaly airfield in northern Jaffna peninsula forcing it to shut down for military and civilian traffic.

Separately, army snipers deployed in Mannar defences gunned down two LTTE rebels at Vannakkulam on Monday morning, the defence ministry said.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka [Images] Air Force fighter jets raided LTTE gun positions in the Kalmunai point in Paranthan in the northern part of the island, the defence ministry said.

In ground clashes, at least three militants were killed in Alakallapottakulam in Vavuniya on Monday, the MCNS said.

At Pandirichchan in Vavuniya, at least 10 militants were killed on Sunday in a clash, it said.

In Vauniya, three militants were gunned down in a clash with army at Venkalaiheddikulam, two at Kalikullam, four at Vilathikulam and four rebels were killed in Mullikulam in Vavuniya on Sunday.

In separate incidents at Vavuniya on Sunday, three militants were fatally shot at Pallikulam, while six rebels were killed in Vilathikulam.

One militant was killed in Kokkuthoduwai area in Jaffna on Sunday, the MCNS said, adding 200 anti-personal mines were recovered from the fleeing LTTE militants.

Two militants were killed in Andamkulam in Eastern Batticaloa on Sunday, the army said.

Meanwhile, two soldiers lost their lives and six were injured in an explosion in the Periyapandivirichchan area in North-western Mannar on Sunday evening, the army said.