Officials say Tamil Tiger rebels attacked a key naval base in northeastern Sri Lanka early Saturday in a fierce push to retake the northern Jaffna Peninsula.
A pro-rebel Web site says the insurgents had attacked the base in Trincomalee with artillery fire. The base supplies 40,000 Sri Lankan troops stationed in Jaffna Peninsula.
A military spokesman said fighting was also raging in other parts of the peninsula.
On Friday, Sri Lankan troops exchanged artillery fire with Tamil rebels as government planes bombed a rebel base on the eastern part of the island.
Reports from Colombo said the fighting was threatening a ceasefire agreement reached in 2002.
More than 400 people have been killed since intense fighting broke out two weeks ago.
Some information for this story was provided by AP, AFP, Reuters