Colombo - Heavy fighting between government security forces and Tamil rebels were reported in north-eastern Sri Lanka as the Navy foiled a rebel sea attack, the military said Monday.

At least 47 rebels were killed Sunday and Monday in the Mullaitivu district, 395 kilometres north-east of the capital, military officials said.

A flotilla of seven boats carrying rebels made an attempt to carry out a pre-dawn attack on security forces on the coast Monday, but the navy destroyed the boats and killed at least 26 guerrillas including a senior member of the group, Navy spokesman Commander DKP Dassanayaka said.

Colombo - The military said Saturday that it had killed at least 26 Tamil rebels and lost six soldiers in northern Sri Lanka as it fights to capture the last remaining guerilla-held ground on the island.

Military spokesman Brigadier Udaya Nanayakkara said the fighting occurred around Pudukudirrippu and Karaivamulliyakal, 390 kilometres north-east of Colombo.

Government troops reached the outer perimeters of a "no-fire zone" meant for civilians in the north-eastern part of the country, which is in the rebel-held area, he said.

Islamabad, Mar. 26 : An interim investigation report over the terror attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore has indicated that there was a complete security lapse which led to the Lankan players being sprayed with bullets.

The report also points out towards a possible involvement of a foreign hand in the attack, however, it does not have anything substantial which could unveil the perpetrators.

Pakistan Prime Minister’s Advisor on Interior Rehman Malik shared the report with the Sri Lankan High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jayalath Weerakkody here, Dawn reports.

Colombo - Security forces have mounted a search operation in north-central Sri Lanka after Tamil separatist rebels gunned down four farmers overnight and wounded four others, a military official said Thursday.

The farmers were shot in the Menikdeniya area of Welikanda, 160 kilometres north-east of Colombo late Wednesday.

The incident was the second such attack in less than 24 hours. On Tuesday night, five farmers were shot dead and two more injured in Serunuwara, 230 kilometres north-east of the capital.

London, Mar 26 : Sri Lankan cricket captain Kumar Sangakkara has said the terrorist attack on the team bus outside Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium has changed the players’ approach forever.

Sangakkara said now players would first assess security arrangements and talk to their families before committing themselves to any tournament.

He told the BBC it was a miracle that none of his team members were killed in the attack.

Colombo - Suspected Tamil rebels shot dead five farmers and injured two others in a remote village in north-eastern Sri Lanka, police said Wednesday.

The farmers were out on their fields in the Dehiwatta area of Serunuwara in the district of Trincomalee, 220 kilometres north-east of Colombo, Tuesday night to protect the crops from animal attacks when they were shot.

The hands of the farmers had been tied before they were shot, police said. The two surviving farmers are in serious condition and were brought to hospital.