Tamil Tiger rebels attacked two Sri Lankan navy vessels at sea around 22 miles north of the capital Colombo last night, setting one alight in the latest in a series of clashes many fear could rekindle civil war.
"Firing is still going on. One of the navy boats is on fire," Navy spokesman Commander D.K.P Dassanayake said on Wednesday. "The Air Force is also engaged."
The attack comes on the heels of a rash of ambushes and military clashes that have killed around 700 people - half of them civilians - so far this year.