Colombo, Mar 21: Sri Lankan troops ambushed ethnic Tamil rebels with a roadside bomb, overran bunkers and engaged in firefights across the island's restive north, killing 29 insurgents, the military said on Friday.

Meanwhile, a soldier was killed by rebel mortar fire on Thursday in Welioya, the military said in a statement.

Soldiers set off a roadside bomb that killed five rebels travelling on a tractor trailer on Thursday in a rebel-controlled part of Vavuniya district, the military said.

Also Thursday, soldiers pushed into rebel strongholds and destroyed three bunkers, the military said. Separate firefights were reported in Jaffna, Vavuniya, Mannar and Welioya districts, the statement said. Altogether 24 rebels were killed in those clashes, it said.

Rebel spokesman Rasiah Ilanthirayan could not be reached for comment.

Each side often exaggerates the other's casualty figures while playing down its own. It was not possible to independently confirm the accounts because reporters have been barred from the war zone.

Tamil Tiger rebels have fought since 1983 to create a separate homeland for ethnic minority Tamils who suffered decades of marginalisation by governments controlled by majority Sinhalese.

More than 70,000 people have been killed in the violence.