Sea battle off Sri Lanka's northeastern coast: navy

Sri Lanka's navy said Tuesday it had destroyed four Tamil Tiger boats off the coastal district of Mullaittivu, where government forces are closing in on the rebels.

Sri Lanka's navy said Tuesday it had destroyed four Tamil Tiger boats off the coastal district of Mullaittivu, where government forces are closing in on the rebels.

HT Image

Naval craft thwarted an attempt by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to get away from the besieged district, a navy spokesman said adding that a naval craft was also damaged in the pre-dawn sea battle.

The heavy fighting came as the military said it had stepped up a naval blockade in the area to prevent any rebel leaders from fleeing the country in the face of the military's biggest ground, air and sea offensive against them.