Tamil Tiger rebels shot dead six Sinhalese construction workers in Sri Lanka's embattled eastern region, the Defence Ministry said on Monday.
"These Sinhalese civilian workers were helping the Tamil community in Mailambaveli area," the Ministry said adding they were engaged in tsunami reconstruction work.
Two men escaped with injuries following Sunday night's shooting spree, the Ministry said.
"This inhuman act of the Tiger terrorists exhibit nothing but cowardly brutal terror unleashed on innocent civilians whenever they face continuous defeats at the hands of the security forces," the ministry said in a statement.
It said two more civilians had been shot dead by Tiger rebels in the northern district of Vavuniya.
There was no immediate word from the Tigers about the incident.