At least 12 people were killed in northern Sri Lanka Sunday as the security situation further deteriorated in the north and eastern parts of the island nation. Indo-Asian News Agency reported from capital Colombo quoting pro-rebel Tamilnet website as saying that the incidents had occurred on the islands off the main Jaffna peninsula and the Sri Lankan Navy was responsible for the attacks.A local judge has visited the locations where the attacks are reported to have taken place and so far there is not independent confirmation about the casualty figures, the agency said. Navy spokesman Commander D. K. P. Dassanayake Sunday denied in Colombo that Navy was involved in the attacks, but claimed that there was a battle between the rebels and the Navy in the area and they were awaiting a report on the incident.
Since April 7 the security situation in the north and eastern parts of the Sri Lanka has further deteriorated with more than 250 deaths of security personnel, civilians and rebels, according to the news agency.