Navy and Air Force attack Tamil Tiger rebels

Sri Lanka’s navy, assisted by warplanes and helicopters, launched a massive attack against a flotilla of nearly 20 boats belonging to separatist Tamil Tiger rebels off the island’s northern coast today, the military said.

The boats were spotted off the coast of the rebel stronghold of Mullaithivu and the navy, with air support, engaged them, an official at the Defence Ministry’s information centre said on condition of anonymity.