Lanka sea battle kills 35

COLOMBO: Sri Lankan navy boats destroyed seven Tamil Tiger vessels in a sea battle, killing at least 35 rebels, a naval spokesman said on Saturday, as President Mahinda Rajapakse appealed for peace.   

 

Sri Lanka has seen a surge in violence in the past few months, raising doubts about the success of peace talks between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in Geneva on October 28-29.  In the latest clash on Friday evening, rebels and government forces fought for three and a half hours off the coast of the troubled Jaffna peninsula in the island nation's Tamil-dominated north.   

 

"Subsequently, we chased them and attacked their withdrawing boats. Seven boats, including one suicide (vessel), have been destroyed. We believe more than 35 (rebels) have been killed," Commander DKP Dassanayake said. 

 

He added that two sailors were wounded in the fight.

 

Leaders of the Tamil Tigers, who are fighting for an independent homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority in the north and east, were not available for comment. 

 

On Wednesday, the rebels launched a sea-borne suicide raid on a naval base in the southern city of Galle, losing 15 fighters and killing one sailor. 

 

"We feel the Tigers were trying to boost the morale of their cadres after they failed in Galle," Dassanayake said.   

 

President Rajapakse used Deepavali -- which signifies victory of good over evil and is being celebrated on Saturday -- to appeal for peace, ahead of the talks. 

 

Earlier report: 20 LTTE men killed in sea battle