From correspondents in Colombo, Sri Lanka, 02:01 PM IST

At least 23 Tamil Tigers were killed when the Sri Lankan Navy destroyed their boats off the coast of northeastern Mullaitivu district, an official said Friday.

Navy spokesman Mahesh Karunaratne said two rebel suicide boats and an attack craft were destroyed at around 1 a.m.

The defence official said 58 underage rebels had given themselves up to the army at Kilinochchi, which was the former headquarters of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

They were between 14 and 18 years of age, the official said, adding that they would undergo medical examination before being sent to child soldier rehabilitation centre at Ambepussa, 40 km north of Colombo.

The LTTE has been fighting to carve out a separate state in Sri Lanka's northern and eastern region over the past quarter century.

(Staff Writer, © IANS)