Lanka sinks rebel boat, believes 10 Tigers dead

Colombo, Feb 12: Sri Lanka's Navy destroyed a suspected Tamil Tiger boat and damaged another at sea off the island's northeast coast before dawn today, officials said, estimating around 10 rebels were killed.

Navy fast-attack boats and ground troops destroyed and sank one of the small boats around 40 km north of the strategic northeastern harbour of Trincomalee, and sailors found what they believe to be the remains of a slain suicide bomber in the damaged boat.

''The Navy detected two boats at around 0430 hrs in the morning ... and we have engaged in the sea and from land,'' said Navy Spokesman Commander D K P Dassanayake. ''We have destroyed one boat and recovered another fitted with weapons.'' It was not clear how many people were aboard the boats, but Dassanayake said he suspected around 10 Tamil Tigers were killed and the Navy was scouring the sea for bodies. The Tigers were not immediately available for comment.

It was the latest naval confrontation amid a new chapter in two decades of civil war. More than 67,000 people have been killed since 1983 -- around 4,000 of those in the last year.

The incident comes a fortnight after the navy sank three suspected Tiger craft off the main harbour in the capital, Colombo.

Emboldened by the capture of a key Tiger stronghold south of Trincomalee harbour, Sri Lanka's government has vowed to go on the offensive to destroy the rebels' entire military machine in the belief it can finally win the war.

But analysts say the government and military are underestimating the rebels, expect the Tigers to hit back and forecast the conflict will escalate.

Reuters

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