Tamil Tiger rebels launched a heavy mortar attack against Sri Lanka's main naval facility in the northeastern port of Trincomalee Tuesday damaging at least one gunboat, officials said.
At least 18 mortar bombs exploded within the naval compound next to the main Trincomalee harbour, the military officials said, adding that there were no immediate reports of casualties.
They said a ferry transporting hundreds of soldiers was approaching the harbour at the time of the attack, but the vessel managed to berth safely.
The military immediately asked civilians to leave the harbour area of Trincomalee, 260 kilometres (160 miles) northeast of the capital Colombo, fearing more long range attacks.
"There is smoke billowing from the navy camp area," a local resident said when contacted by telephone.
The attack came as Sri Lankan airforce jets bombed suspected Tamil Tiger positions in the same district.
