India Wednesday expressed deep concern at the spurt in violence in Sri Lanka and called for giving a fresh start to the peace process in the island nation.

An external affairs ministry spokesman said the trend of escalating violence could only undermine the search for a political settlement of the problems in the strife-torn island nation.

• Tamil MP shot during Christmas mass in Lanka

"The trend can only undermine the search for a political solution to the problem, which is so critical to Sri Lanka," the spokesman said adding, India's position was well known.

In renewed violence in Sri Lanka, 11 soldiers were killed in a landmine explosion in the northern Jaffna peninsula Tuesday and a policeman was killed at Kalmunai in the east.

On Sunday, a legislator was assassinated during Christmas mass at a church in Batticaloa, while on Friday, 13 Sri Lankan sailors were killed in an ambush in the island's northwest.

In all, 45 Sri Lankan soldiers, sailors and police officers were killed in December.