Colombo: At least two civilians were gunned down by unidentified persons in Sri Lanka amid a lull in fighting a day after 80 Tamil Tiger rebels were killed in battles between the LTTE and government rebels in the island nation. The north-eastern port district of Trincomalee was quiet today with both the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and security forces holding back their long range attacks, defence officials said. They said Jaffna peninsula too was silent with no major confrontations between troops and Tigers. The government is also sending a second ship carrying essential supplies to Jaffna today after ending a two-week siege of the region following heavy fighting.
Meanwhile, a second cargo ship was due to leave the capital today with supplies of food and medicine for desperate residents of the embattled Jaffna peninsula, the site of the six-hour battle yesterday.
The pro-rebel Tamil net website said at least 30 Sri Lankan sailors were missing following the rebel counter attack that also damaged two Israeli-built gunboats. The military said 80 rebels were killed.