At least 30 Tamil Tiger rebels and a soldier were killed when Sri Lankan troops attacked four jungle bases of the guerrillas in east of the island, the Defence Ministry in Colombo said on Saturday.

The security forces captured and destroyed the four bases of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in the jungles of Thoppigala in Batticaloa district during an offensive late Friday night and early Saturday.

'The Army confirms that 30 LTTE terrorists have been killed in the confrontations including three who had committed suicide in desperation,' the Defence Ministry said in a statement.

It said one soldier was also killed and 17 others wounded.

The Defence Ministry said troops also recovered the bodies of eight guerrillas following the fighting.