Ten sailors missing after navy ship hits floating mine off Sri Lanka

A Sri Lankan navy official says one of its ships hit a floating mine off the island’s northern coast, leaving 10 sailors missing.

The incident occurred amid intensified fighting between Sri Lankan troops and ethnic Tamil rebels.

Navy spokesman DKP Dassanayake said on Saturday he believes rebels planted the mine at sea.

But a pro-rebel website said its men launched a suicide attack on the boat. (AP)