The Sri Lankan navy and a suspected Tamil Tiger rebel boat have exchanged fire off the island’s north-east coast, the navy said on Monday. Spokesman Jayantha Perera said four navy sailors were injured in the clash in international waters, off the coast of Mullaittivu, 220 kilometres (175 miles) from the capital, Colombo. The rebel vessel was on fire and sinking, Mr Perera said. International peace monitors said the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) had confirmed one of their boats was involved. It was not immediately clear if the vessel was being used to smuggle weapons in violation of a year-long ceasefire agreement. Last month, three Tamil Tiger rebels blew themselves up after monitors boarded their heavily-armed boat off the northern coast of Jaffna as they tried to smuggle arms to the island. The incident failed to derail peace talks, which are aimed at forging a lasting agreement to end nearly two decades of civil war in which more than 60,000 people have been killed. Full Story
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