Colombo: Sri Lankan security forces resumed their offensive against Tamil Tiger rebels in the north of the island on Wednesday following a brief holiday ceasefire, the two sides said. The navy attacked two Tiger boats that tried to approach the coastline, killing at least 10 guerrillas, a navy spokesman said, adding that one craft was sunk and the other was captured together with a haul of weapons.

The sea battle came at the end of a 48-hour ceasefire declared by President Mahinda Rajapakse to coincide with the traditional New Year shared by both majority Sinhalese and the minority Tamils.