Lanka captures 2 rebel boats in sea battle

Colombo, Oct 11: Sri Lanka's navy captured two Tamil Tiger rebel boats off the island's northwest coast after killing four guerrillas in a clash today, the military said.

Fighting between the military and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), who want a separate homeland for minority Tamils in the north and east, has escalated since the government launched an offensive in Mannar in the northwest last month.

A two-metre long remote control aircraft and a small toy helicopter, also remotely controlled, were found on the captured boats, navy spokesman D K P Dassanayake said.

The LTTE were not immediately available for comment.

Around 5,000 people have been killed in fighting between the military and the LTTE guerrillas since early 2006.

Reuters
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