Sri Lanka navy sinks two Tiger boats: military

February 8, 2009 (AFP) - The Sri Lankan navy on Sunday sank two boats carrying Tamil Tiger rebels escaping the island's north-eastern battle zone, killing at least six guerrillas, a spokesman said.



Naval craft attacked two boats belonging to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) off the coast of Mullaittivu where the rebels have been cornered following a major ground offensive, Captain D.



K. P. Dassanayake said.

"We have tracked the boats for a short distance and then took them on," he said.

"We believe there were at least six guerrillas aboard the two craft and two of them must have been senior cadres.

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The attack came as security forces penned the guerrillas in a coastal jungle area which is said to be about 100 square kilometres (38 square miles) in the district of Mullaittivu.