Colombo: The Sri Lanka Air Force claimed that its attack jets had "bombed and destroyed" three arms boats of the Sea Tiger wing of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Mullaitivu Saturday evening.

"These arms boats were located beached near the Mullaitivu lagoon in the north and all three boats were completely destroyed during the air raid around 5.40 p.m. (Sri Lankan time)," air force spokesman Wing Commander Andy Wijesuriya told IANS over the phone.

He said that the air raids were conducted based on intelligence reports provided by the Sri Lankan Navy.

The Sea Tiger wing is the sea going arm of the rebel group. There was no immediate reaction from the LTTE.

Meanwhile, the defence ministry reported that at least 21 LTTE cadres and one government soldier were killed during clashes with the rebels in the northern Jaffna and Wanni regions Friday.

Independent verifications on the casualties are not possible as journalists are barred from visiting the battlefront.

Source : IANS