Colombo (PTI): Sri Lankan fighter jets targeted a strategic base of the LTTE naval wing even as 19 tigers and a solider were killed in a series of ground clashes in the northern part of the island country, the army said.

"Air Force fighter jets on Saturday hit one of the nerve centers of Sea Tiger wing at Kaivelikulam in North West of Puthukkudiyiruppu in rebel dominated Mullaitivu district," the Defence Ministry said.

According to Air Force sources, fighter jets have carried out air sorties this afternoon targeting a covert meeting of Sea Tiger leaders and the attack has been carried out on real time ground intelligence.

Fighter pilots have confirmed that the target was accurately hit, the Ministry said in a statement.

Six militants, including four women LTTE cadres, were killed during a clash at Periyapachchankerni in Vavuniya yesterday, the army said.

In Madhu Road in Vavuniya, at least five militants were gunned down during a confrontation yesterday, it said, adding two rebels were shot dead in the same area last evening.

At Welioya in Northern Jaffna, one militant was killed and a soldier injured in a confrontation, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said. In another confrontation in the same area yesterday, another militant was killed in clashes, the MCNS said.