Sri Lanka navy killed at least 80 Tamil separatists and sank 12 rebel boats off the northern coast, Sri Lanka Defence Ministry said. The boats of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) were attempting to attack the port of Kankesanthurai in Jaffna peninsula, the statement said. Naval gunboats intercepted the Tiger boats starting the battle, which lasted for six hours, it said. "Twelve Sea Tiger craft, including five suicide boats, were destroyed killing over 80 separatists and injuring many others on board," the Ministry said. "The remaining craft left the area," it said.Meanwhile the government was preparing to dispatch a second cargo ship on Sunday to Kankesanthurai with supplies of food, medicines and other essential items for people trapped by the fighting.