Sri Lankan troops and Tamil Tigers have further compounded the fragile ceasefire in the island nation by resorting to heavy artillery fire in the rebel fronts of Jaffna and Trincomalee, which claimed at least four lives and left 80 others wounded.

The latest round of shelling has forced civilians in Jaffna in the northern part of the island and Trincomalee in the north-east to seek shelter in public buildings, adding to an already growing number of refugees.

The military accused the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam of launching the latest attack with shelling of the defence lines in Jaffna peninsula on Friday evening.

The military retaliation sparked heavy battles that dragged into Saturday morning, military officials said adding, that two soldiers were killed and about 75 wounded on the army side. Rebel casualties were not immediately known.

In Trincomalee city, rebels launched an artillery barrage just before dawn on Saturday killing two people and wounding five sailors and two civilians.

About 25 shells fell inside the naval port and military complex in Trincomalee town.