An estimated 20 Tamil Tiger guerrillas were killed in a sea battle with government froces off Sri Lanka's northeastern coast today.
According to officials, a naval patrol stumbled upon a flotilla of rebel boats, military officials said.
At least two out of 10 rebel boats were destroyed in fighting about 20 miles off the coast of Mullaitivu district, an area controlled by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE).
"The fighting is going on and we suspect that the LTTE has lost 20 men in the two boats," a navy officer said. He did not mention any casualties among government forces.
The LTTE, fighting for a separate Tamil state in Sri Lanka's north and east, has stepped up attacks on the navy in recent weeks and warned civilians against travelling on government-owned ferries.