Free Republic

'100 Tigers killed' in sea battle with Sri Lankan navy By Michael Hirst (Filed: 03/09/2006) Sri lanka's navy claimed to have sunk 12 Tamil Tiger boats during a six-hour sea battle yesterday that killed up to 100 rebels. The fighting started late on Friday when about 20 Tiger vessels, including five suicide boats packed with explosives, attempted to attack a naval base at Kankasanthurai, a key port on the northern Jaffna peninsula. A patrol, including fast-attack gun boats, drove the Tigers into open water where the battle continued until dawn yesterday. TamilNet, a pro-rebel website, claimed that two navy vessels...

Snipers shoot dead Sri Lankan foreign minister (Filed: 13/08/2005) Sri Lanka's foreign minister, Lakshman Kadirgamar, was shot dead last night in an attack the police and military blamed on separatist rebels. Mr Kadirgamar, 73, a hardliner in dealing with the island's Tamil Tiger rebels, was hit by sniper fire as he climbed out of his swimming pool. He was rushed to the National Hospital in Colombo, which was sealed off as other ministers arrived to visit his bedside. The justice minister, John Senevirathne, said: "He worked tirelessly for peace throughout his career. It is a great loss." Heavily armed police...