11 Tamil Tiger boats sunk in sea battle, govt claims

Sri Lanka's navy battled a flotilla of Tamil Tiger boats off the island's northwest tip yesterday, destroying 11 rebel vessels including two suicide boats and killing an estimated 40 insurgents, the military said.

A dozen navy fast-attack craft sank four of the rebel vessels, helicopter gunships and Israeli-made Kfir fighter jets sank another five and two rebel suicide vessels were destroyed when they rammed a navy boat which was badly damaged.

"They were involved in arms smuggling," said military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara.