At least 64 people were killed in fierce ground clashes and shelling of a key military base close to a Catholic church by Ta mil Tigers in Sri Lanka's [Images] embattled northern region, officials have said.

Six soldiers were killed and several injured when Tiger rebels attacked the Thallady military base in Mannar, prompting security forces to retaliate, the army said, adding the nearby St. Anthony's Church was also hit in the rebel shelling.

In a separate incident, two Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) cadres were killed by security forces in the general area of Alakallakottakulam in Vavuniya, the defence ministry said.

It said four guerrillas were gunned down by security forces in Sripurama and Nedunkandal areas of Mannar.

In another clash, seven rebels were killed in Kokkuduthuduvai in northeastern Welioya while the troops shot dead another 13 LTTE cadres and injured 21 in Anandakulam, it said.

Ten soldiers also lost their lives during confrontations in Welioya, the ministry said.