At least 15 dead in Sri Lanka attack

The Lankan navy sunk three boats carrying rebels off the island's eastern coast, killing at least 15 rebels.

The Sri Lankan navy sunk three boats carrying rebels off the island's north-eastern coast, killing at least 15 rebels in a fierce clash, a military source said on Thursday.

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Fighting broke out when the Navy spotted 15 boats transporting rebel cadres and confronted the flotilla off Mullaithivu, 380 km north-east of Colombo.

There were no details of any Navy casualties.

The Navy has stepped up patrols off Sri Lanka's eastern coast to prevent rebels from transporting fighters or smuggling arms.