29 March, 2007 - Published 15:32 GMT

India concerned on Lanka violence

Sri Lanka's giant neighbour, India, says the increasing violence in the island nation is a cause of concern for the entire region.

Speaking in advance of a summit on regional cooperation India's foreign secretary, Shiv Shankar Menon, said the country is seriously concerned on emerging pattern of violence.

The Sri Lankan navy says it has sunk three Tamil Tiger boats in a sea battle off northeastern Sri Lanka, killing at least fifteen rebel fighters.

A naval spokesman said ten Tiger vessels were intercepted off the rebel-held district of Mullaithivu; the other seven retreated. There's been no statement from the Tamil Tigers.

Earlier this week, The Tamil Tigers launched their first ever air strike on air force base adjacent to Colombo's main international airport.

Expressing deep concern over the humanitarian consequences of the escalating violence, Shiv Shankar Menon urged both parties to end violence and find a political solution to the conflict.

"The humanitarian consequences of that really worry us. When you see internally displaced people, over a hundred thousand of them and we would hope that the violence would come to an end soon and that they can find a solution to this conflict," he told journalists in Delhi.