Sri Lankan navy boats destroyed seven Tamil Tiger vessels in a sea battle, killing at least 35 rebels, a naval spokesperson said on Saturday, as President Mahinda Rajapakse appealed for peace.
Sri Lanka has seen a surge in violence in the past few months, raising doubts about the success of peace talks between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Geneva on October 28 and 29.
In the latest clash on Friday evening, rebels and government forces fought for three-and-a-half hours off the coast of the troubled Jaffna peninsula in the island nation’s Tamil-dominated north.
”Subsequently, we chased them and attacked their withdrawing boats. A total of seven boats, including one suicide [vessel], have been destroyed and we believe more than 35 [rebels] killed,” Commander DKP Dassanayake said. He added two sailors were wounded in the fight.
Pro-rebel website Tamilnet.com said the LTTE denied suffering casualties and that rebel boats had damaged two navy attack boats. It said the rebels were attacked first by the navy.
Rebel leaders, who are fighting for an independent homeland for the ethnic Tamil minority in the north and east, were not available for comment.
On Wednesday, the rebels launched a sea-borne suicide raid on a naval base in the southern city of Galle, losing 15 fighters and killing one sailor.
”We feel the Tigers were trying something to boost the morale of their cadres after they failed in Galle,” Dassanayake said.
Peace call
Rajapakse used the Hindu festival of Deepavali — which signifies victory of good over evil and is being celebrated on Saturday — to appeal for peace, ahead of the talks.
”Celebrating Deepavali, let us resolve to enhance our endeavours to bring lasting peace to our land so that people of all communities and faiths could live in happiness and dignity,” Rajapakse said in a statement.
Most Tamils, who make up 18% of the population of largely Buddhist Sri Lanka’s population, are Hindus.
”Today our society is plagued by violence and hatred between communities, and tolerance so characteristic of Hinduism and other great religions has given way to animosity and conflict,” the president said.
Foreign powers have also urged both sides to stand down.
”In the end, people have to understand that the only real solution to their grievances is going to be a political one,” United States Assistant Secretary of State Richard Boucher told a news conference in Colombo late on Friday.
Since July violence has soared and about 1 000 people have died, including many soldiers. A 2002 truce now exists only in name.
More than 65 000 people have been killed in the two-decade conflict, fuelled by complaints of discrimination by the state and sections of Sinhalese majority from members of the Tamil minority.
Sri Lankan media said the recent violence should not sway either side from pushing for successful talks in Geneva.
”It is futile to expect these talks to produce any spectacular breakthrough,” the Daily Mirror said in an editorial. ”But if they at least agree to resolve some of the problems currently affecting the people and build up confidence between the parties, it would constitute a step forward.” — Reuters