The Sri Lankan navy has killed at least 41 separatist rebels in two separate sea battles in the country's restive north. Two Tamil Tiger boats were destroyed on Saturday off an island, killing six rebels, a naval spokesman said, the second military engagement at sea in less than 24 hours. On Friday, the navy destroyed seven Tamil Tiger craft in a major sea battle, killing at least 35 rebels off the northern Jaffna peninsula. Saturday's clash took place near the government-controlled Kytes island off the Tamil-dominated peninsula after navy patrol boats spotted rebel craft approaching the island. "All six LTTE [Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam] members on board were killed," Commander D K P Dassanayake said.
The Sri Lankan navy also killed at least 35 Tamil Tiger fighters in an ongoing sea battle in the northern Jaffna region. A navy spokesperson said: "Sri Lanka navy boats destroyed seven suicide Tamil Tiger vessels in a sea battle, killing at least 35 rebels. We managed to destroy seven boats. The fighting is going on and we are chasing them." He said two sailors were also wounded in the fight.
The latest clashes come ahead of peace talks between the Tigers and the government on October 28 and 29. Peace envoys are pushing both sides to stay the course for the planned talks but a surge in violence risks undermining the meeting in Geneva.