The sources told The Hindu on Thursday that the suspects, including a Black Tiger operative and a Sea Tiger operative, ventured into Indian waters to find a safe route to the target, which is a high security zone.

The source added that the explosives came from a certain South-East Asian country. "The threat of a flotilla of Sea Tiger boats storming the Kankesanthurai port had been perceived on many occasions. Investigators suspect that instructions on a satellite phone would have come from Mullaithivu or Killinochi." More... Discuss this story Published: Thu Feb 22 23:02:22 EST 2007

The Liberation Tigers said the truce, which went into effect five years ago on Friday, was now nonexistent and warned that the government's ''war on terrorism'' campaign will add to the ''bloodstained pages of the island's history.''

''It has also compelled the Tamil people to resume their freedom struggle to realize their right to self-determination and to achieve statehood,'' the Tigers said in a statement.

It blamed the government of President Mahinda Rajapakse for trying to find a military solution and blamed the international community for allegedly siding with the administration.

''Even though today it exists only on paper, it (the cease-fire agreement of 2002) remains a unique document in the search for an end to the national conflict in the island of Sri Lanka,'' the Tigers said.

The Tigers listed violations of the truce and made it clear that the cease-fire was applicable only on paper, but stopped short of giving the required two weeks' notice to quit the cease-fire agreement formally.

Sri Lankan politicians have argued that since the truce had virtually collapsed several years ago, there was no need to formally exit the pact.

Peace broker Norway on Thursday offered to go the extra mile to try and revive the moribund peace process, but violence escalated with the navy claiming that it had killed nine rebels in a sea battle.Discuss this story Published: Thu Feb 22 15:07:19 EST 2007

Naval patrol craft spotted two suspicious boats in the seas off Puttalam 120 kilometers (75 miles) north of the capital Colombo and warned them to stop. When occupants of one boat began firing at the navy, the sailors returned fire and destroyed both boats with nine suspected rebels onboard, an official at the national security media center said on condition of anonymity citing policy.Discuss this story Published: Thu Feb 22 12:54:57 EST 2007