The reports of fresh fighting coincided with the return to Sri Lanka of President Chandrika Kumaratunga. State radio said she had returned on Thursday morning after undergoing medical treatment abroad. Mrs Kumaratunga went abroad over two weeks ago to an undisclosed destination to seek treatment for her right eye, damaged in a suicide bomb attack in December. There has been growing criticism of the conduct of the war by opposition groups and in the media. On Wednesday, an English-language newspaper sympathetic to the opposition said the government should appeal for foreign assistance and obtain arms from other South Asian countries.
Military officials say an enquiry is to be held into the conduct of the war effort.
Tamil Tiger rebels are fighting for a homeland for Tamils in the north and east of the country. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites Links to other South Asia stories are at the foot of the page.