The military in Sri Lanka said Thursday that at 25 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed and 10 rebel boats were destroyed in a fierce sea battle that last over three hours in the northwestern coast.

The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that the battle erupted at about 11:30 a.m. (0600 GMT) off the coast of Nachchikudha in the Kilinochchi district which is largely being held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Tigers (LTTE).

"Initially four suspicious boats were detected off the Valaipadu coast North of Nachchikudha, and confrontation broke-out when the approaching naval craft were attacked by LTTE boats," said the statement.

As the battle progressed, more naval craft were reinforced into the confrontation zone to attack the approaching LTTE craft, the statement added.

Military officials said three large attack boats were included in the 10 LTTE craft destroyed by the Navy.

The LTTE hasn't released details on the naval clash, but pro-LTTE sources said 25 Army soldiers were killed and more than 40 were injured as an attempt to advance into Kilinochchi's Vannivilankulam area was repulsed by the LTTE.

The sources said heavy fighting broke out in Vannivilankulam region around 9:30 a.m. (0400 GMT) and lasted till 1:00 p.m. (0730GMT).

The claims from the two sides can not be independently verified as reporters are not allowed to enter the battle zones.

Government troops and the LTTE are engaged in fierce battles in the north as the troops advance further into the heartland of the LTTE.

The LTTE has been fighting for more than two decades to carve out an independent homeland for Sri Lanka's Tamil minorities in the north and east, resulting in the killing of more than 70,000 people.

(Xinhua News Agency September 19, 2008)