Sri Lanka's navy says it has sunk a ship used by the Tamil Tiger rebels, killing at least 12 people on board. It was the last seaworthy Tiger vessel, as seven were destroyed recently, navy spokesman DPK Dassanayake said. The sinking has not been independently confirmed and the Tigers have made no immediate comment.
Fighting has intensified in recent months between the Tigers, who want an independent state for the Tamil minority, and the government.
The sinking of the 3,000-ton ship took place about 850 nautical miles (978 miles; 1573km) off the southern coast, Cmdr Dassanayake said. He said vessels were used by the Tamil Tigers as floating platforms to store and smuggle weapons.
"This is a serious blow because destroying eight ships within a 13-month period - this is not a small thing," Cmdr Dassanayake said. But he warned that with their overseas fundraising network, the Tamil Tigers could purchase more craft.
Elsewhere in Sri Lanka, military officials say eight Tamil Tiger rebels and one soldier were killed in the latest fighting.