Sri Lankan navy destroys six LTTE sea tiger boats, kills 25 rebels

Colombo, Apr 29 (ANI): Sri Lankan Navy's elite Special Boat Squadron (SBS) and Fast Attack Craft (FAC) on Wednesday destroyed six LTTE sea tiger boats killing twenty-five sea tigers off Mullaithivu.

A Lankan Army spokesperson informed that four suicide craft laden with high explosives and two enemy attack craft mounted with high caliber weapons were destroyed in the Naval gun fire.

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband and French couterpart Bernard Kouchner are in Colombo to meet Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa today to discuss about the safety of the civilians still stuck in the war zone in the island nation.

Addressing a joint press conference in Colombo today, Bernard Kouchner said that 'Human beings are pre- occupation for us' and urged the Sri Lankan Government to allow more access by the UN, Red Cross and NGO's to help the civilian population in the combat zone as the international community is very anxious at their plight.

Miliband has already met Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama and urged him and the Sri Lankan Government to enforce a cease-fire.

Bogollagama is reported to have told Miliband and French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner that Colombo is doing everything possible to save innocent Tamil civilians trapped in a six kilometre area along with the rebel LTTE in the northern part of the country.

He also rejected suggestions that LTTE chief Vellupillai Prabhakaran has escaped from the country, and added that the Sri Lankan government's concern was for the civilian population and not for Prabhakaran.

The British and French foreign ministers are on a one-day trip to Sri Lanka amid efforts to secure a truce between the army and rebels. Miliband and Kouchner will meet top officials and visit places where displaced people are living in camps.

Earlier, the Sri Lankan Government barred the entry of Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt, prompting the Scandanavian nation to recall its envoy for consultations.

However, Sri Lanka rejected reports of denying entry to the Swedish minister, but said he can come in early May. (ANI)