Associated Press, Mon November 27, 2006 03:07 COLOMBO, Sri Lanka - (AP) Sri Lanka - 's navy on Monday destroyed a boat suspected of ferrying arms for Tamil Tiger rebels off the island's west coast, killing six, the military said, as the rebels marked their annual ``Martyrs' Day.'' Sri Lanka - is separated from India home to some 56 million Tamils by the narrow Palk Straits.
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam rebels, as the rebels are formally known, have fought the government since 1983 demanding a self-ruled homeland for ethnic minority Tamils, citing decades of discrimination by the Sinhalese majority.
The guerrillas mark their ``Martyrs' Day'' on Nov. 27 every year to remember thousands of fighters killed battling government troops. In the past they have mounted major attacks on military, economic and civilian targets to commemorate their dead fighters.
More than 65,000 people were killed until a 2002 cease-fire. But the truce nearly collapsed in the past year with assassinations, aerial bombardments and exchange of heavy arms fire killing another 3,500 people.
Both side say they have not officially withdrawn from the truce despite the violence
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