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| Rebel boat sunk, says Sri Lanka | Rebel boat sunk, says Sri Lanka |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Sri Lanka's navy has destroyed a boat which the Tamil Tiger rebels were using to attempt an attack on Colombo harbour, the defence ministry says. | Sri Lanka's navy has destroyed a boat which the Tamil Tiger rebels were using to attempt an attack on Colombo harbour, the defence ministry says. |
| The boat was sunk after ignoring orders to stop. Two other boats managed to make their escape. | The boat was sunk after ignoring orders to stop. Two other boats managed to make their escape. |
| There was no word on casualties, but local residents reported hearing heavy gunfire near the port. | There was no word on casualties, but local residents reported hearing heavy gunfire near the port. |
| The Tamil Tigers want an independent homeland in the north and east for the country's minority Tamil community. | The Tamil Tigers want an independent homeland in the north and east for the country's minority Tamil community. |
| The boats were seen about 0530 (0000GMT) in a "high security zone" which is out of bounds to unauthorised vessels. | |
| A guard at a lighthouse noticed the boats and alerted the navy. | |
| As the boats approached Colombo harbour, they were told to stop, but failed to do so. | |
| The air force later joined navy ships in a search for the two boats which fled. | |
| After two decades of fighting, a truce was signed in 2002 between the Tamil Tigers and the government. | |
| Although it is still officially in effect, fighting over the past year has left over 3,500 people dead. |