Colombo - Sri Lanka's Tamil Tigers sank a Dvoraclass gunboat, killing at least seven sailors in the bloodiest sea battle during their three-month-long unilateral truce.
Three navy gunboats were involved in an exchange of fire off the coast of Mullaitivu where the separatist Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam guerrillas have their strongest base. Initial reports suggested 11 sailors were killed but the navy said it rescued 12.