Lankan Navy sinks 3 rebel boats, 20 dead

“A naval patrol has come across about 10 Tiger boats and our boats launched an attack,” said Commander Athula Senaratne, a navy spokesman.

“We were able to destroy three rebel craft,” he added. Officials said they intercepted a rebel radio communication that revealed more than 20 of their fighters were killed.

The clash came after the military said troops had driven the rebels from a key eastern stronghold in the island’s restive east. The Tigers said the navy triggered an hour-long sea battle by attacking them, and came off worst.

“Around 23 Dvora attack boats approached our controlled areas and attacked us,” a Tiger official, asking not to be identified, said from the northern rebel stronghold of Kilinochchi.

“Our people say none of our boats were damaged, but they say two navy Dvora were badly damaged.” The Tigers said one of their fighters was killed in the clash. Analysts say both sides are prone to overstate enemy losses and downplay their own.

The Tigers, who are seeking to carve out an independent state for Tamils in the island, have lost an estimated 600 sq km of terrain in the face of military offensives in the east in recent months.